Countdown to tipoff: Wake Forest at Clemson
By: will-vandervort February 14, 2017

Clemson hopes to stop a three-game skid with a home game against Wake Forest today at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Tigers topped the Demon Deacons to begin ACC play earlier this season in Winston-Salem, N.C., 73-68.

The Tigers have lost nine of their last 11 games.

WAKE FOREST (15-10, 6-7 ACC) AT CLEMSON (13-11, 3-9 ACC)

Date: Today

Tipoff: 7 p.m.

Arena: Littlejohn Coliseum (9,000)

Radio: CTSN (Tony Castricone-pbp; Tim Bourret-color)

TV: ACCN (Justin Kutcher-pbp; Mike Gminski-color)

TV: RSN (Wes Durham-pbp; Mike Gminski-color)

  • The Tigers have won the last three meetings in the series and five straight at home over Wake Forest, the sixth-longest home winning streak over an ACC foe in program history.
  • In the New Year’s Eve win at Wake, Clemson ended the game on a 15-0 run to earn the thrilling, come from behind victory.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Clemson

G             Shelton Mitchell

G             Avry Holmes

F              Donte Grantham

F              Jaron Blossomgame

C             Elijah Thomas

Wake Forest

G             Bryant Crawford

G             Keyshawn Woods

F              Austin Arians

F              Dinos Mitoglou

C             John Collins

SERIES HISTORY

CU Series W-L record: Wake Forest leads 99-60

Streak: Clemson has won the last three meetings

TIGER TRACKS

  • Clemson owns the nation’s third-toughest schedule, according to KenPom. The Tigers are 39th in the site’s efficiency ratings, while Wake is No. 32.
  • The Tigers are second in the ACC with 7.8 steals per game. In the first meeting with the Demon Deacons, Clemson recorded 11 steals and posted 20 points off Wake Forest turnovers.
  • Clemson is second among ACC schools with a +3.5 turnover margin. The Tigers committed just seven turnovers in 40 minutes at Duke last time out.
  • Shelton Mitchell is coming off a career-high 23 points at Duke; most by a Tiger at Cameron Indoor Stadium since Chris Hobbs posted 25 in 2001-02.
  • Marcquise Reed has 35 steals on the season, most by a Tiger reserve since Andre Young (54) in 2009-10.
  • Jaron Blossomgame needs just three rebounds Tuesday to pass Sharrod Ford for ninth place in Clemson history with 763.
  • Elijah Thomas posted a career-high 15 points at Duke; he made 5-7 field goals and 5-7 at the free throw line, while adding nine rebounds in 30 minutes.

–Staff Reports

—Above photo: Clemson guard Avry Holmes (12) shoots against Duke guard Grayson Allen (3) in the second half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium last Saturday. Clemson hosts Wake Forest today at 7 p.m. (photo by Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports)