Time: 7:00 pm
TV: ESPNU
Announcers: Tom Hart, Cory Alexander
Clemson…All Defense + Zero Offense + 2nd slowest team in the country = ZZzzzzzzz. Basically it’s Miami all over again. The Tiggers are currently on a 3 game losing streak (@SU, @ND, UVA). Brad Brownell has the Tigers in a very familiar position to Wolfpack fans, betting the teams they are supposed to beat and losing to all the “good” teams. Brownell is taking a page out of the old philosophy, if you don’t have the talent then slow it down to limit possessions and play tough defense.
Probable Starters:
#12 Rod Hall (6-1 210 JR) GUARD – Clemson’s primary ball handler with a tremendous assist rate of 26.5% and shoots the ball pretty good. While he’s only taking about half the shots that McDaniels is taking he maintains a very respectable ORtg of 114. Rod is one of only three players who play more than half the game at 80% (McDaniels 80%, Nnoko 60%).
#21 Demarcus Harrison (6-4 200 JR) GUARD – Harrison is usually in for less than half the game but is decent while out there, while he’s a good FT shooter (.881) he’s struggling inside the arc (.342). He could really stand to take less shots but let’s not tell him that before tonight, mmmKaaayyyy.
#32 K.J. McDaniels (6-6 200 JR) FORWARD – Primary scorer, 3 pt shooter, rebounder, and blocker, all while sporting a nice 113 ORtg, which is surprising since he’s 30% of the team’s offense.
#5 Jaron Blossomgang (6-7 215 FR) FORWARD – He’s a pretty good rebounder and has a sub-100 ORtg. There’s really not much to say about him other than at .548 FT% I suggest fouling him.
#33 Josh Smith (6-8 260 SO) CENTER – Yeah ummmmm…no earthly idea why he is starting (ORtg 70.8) but hey, not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Maybe he’s taking Nnoko’s spot since he’s out with the flu, whatever the reason he may be “Unknown Player has career game against Pack” guy.
Series Notes
• The last two games between Clemson and NC State in Littlejohn Coliseum have been decided by a total of four points; in 2012, Andre Young hit the game-winning three in overtime to lift Clemson to a 72-69 win; last year, Scott Wood buried a baseline three in the final seconds to give the ‘Pack a 58-57 victory.
• Clemson has won four of the last five in Littlejohn, including in 2011 when the Tigers trailed by as much as 19 in the first half.
• NC State leads the series 99-48
• NC State has won the last two meetings
• Last season’s 58-57 victory for NC State was the first Wolfpack win in Littlejohn Coliseum since 2006-07.
• Landry Nnoko missed his first career game against Virginia on Saturday and is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game due to the flu.
Fun Facts
When leading at the half: Clemson 12-0, NCSU 13-3
When leading with 5:00 left: Clemson 14-1
When shoots better/same as opponent: NCSU 15-2
When has more/same FT attempts: NCSU 9-0
Clemson is 10-2 at home. NCSU is 4-5 on the road.
ADVANTAGE
Clemson plays mostly man defense and if they stick to it I think Barber can get more playing time then against the zone. Overall Clemson’s defense is better than the Pack’s offense, the Pack simply has to shoot the ball better from behind the 3 and at the FT line.
This is going to be FUGLY. If the Pack can learn that defensive rebounding will prevent the Tiggers from scoring then it should be an “easy” night.
PREDICTION
KenPom Predictor and Vegas both like Clemson by 4. If this team was pissed off after Saturday night (and still is) then I say the Pack wins. If the Pack sat in their lockers and cried about the game then the season is over.
