Basketball

Tigers Look To Stay Hot In Blacksburg

Clemson (15-13, 9-9 ACC) will try again to move above .500 in ACC play, while trying for their 10th win of the season in conference play when they travel to Blacksburg for a meeting with Virginia Tech (15-14, 6-12) on Wednesday. The game is scheduled for 7pm on the ACC Network.

The Tigers need a win after splitting their last eight games. Clemson is averaging 66.9 points on 43.3% shooting and allowing 63.9 points on 40.8% shooting.

Aamir Simms is averaging 13.3 points and 2.6 assists, while Tevin Mack is averaging 12.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. John Newman, III is dishing 2.2 assists and Al-Amir Dawes is grabbing 2.9 rebounds.

Dawes looks to continue his stellar play after the 18 points he scored against FSU, including the game-winning basket with one second left to give Clemson the win 70-69.

Clemson, as a team, is shooting 32.1% from beyond the three point line and 67.1% from the free throw line. The Tigers are allowing 32% shooting from the arc and are grabbing 31.3 rebounds a game.

One thing that hurts them is that Clemson has lost five of their last seven road games and all of their big wins came at home. This is a road win Clemson needs.

Virginia Tech needs a win to snap a four game losing streak. The Hokies are averaging 69.4 points, on 42.2% shooting, and allowing 66.5 points on 41.7% shooting.

Landers Nolley II is averaging 16.2 points and 2.4 assists while Tyrece Radford is averaging 10.2 points and 6.3 rebounds. P.J. Horne is grabbing 4.1 rebounds and Nahiem Alleyne is dishing out 1.5 assists. They are shooting 35.3% from beyond the three point line and 71.1% from the free throw line.

Virginia Tech is allowing opponents to shoot 31.9% from down town and they are grabbing 31.7 rebounds a game.

The Hokies have lost five of their last seven home games. They’ve also lost their last five games by an average of eight points a game. Combine that with Clemson’s record on the road and it means that one of those streaks will end. 

For the Tigers to get the win they need someone to step up on the offensive end and score along side Aamir Simms. Yes, it sounds like a broken record. Clemson also will need to try to limit the scoreless streaks that have hurt them during the season.

Clemson fans will hold their breath because this season has shown that the Tigers can take down the giants in the ACC, and then turn around and lose to teams they are expected to impose their will against. 

Projected Lineups:

Clemson:

#0 Clyde Trapp Junior Guard

#10 Al-Amir Dawes Freshman Guard

#15 John Newman, III Sophomore Guard

#13 Tevin Mack Graduate Student Forward

#25 Aamir Simms Junior Forward

Virginia Tech:

#1 Isaiah Wilkins Sophomore Guard

#3 Wabissa Bede Junior Guard

#4 Naheim Alleyne Freshman Guard

#23 Tyrece Radford Redshirt Freshman Guard

#21 John Ojiako Freshman Forward

Published by

Freddie L. Huth, IV

I am a 20 year Deputy with the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office who’s dream has always been to cover Clemson Athletics. I have an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. I am 46 years old and a type 1 diabetic that was diagnosed just before I turned 2.

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