Countdown to tip off: No. 17 Clemson visits No. 2 Virginia
By: will-vandervort January 23, 2018

Clemson hits the road for today’s 7 p.m. game at No. 2 Virginia without its second leading scorer and rebounder for the first time this season.

Forward Donte Grantham’s Clemson career came to a stunning end during last Saturday’s win over Notre Dame when he tore his ACL midway through the second half of the Tigers’ victory. The 17th-ranked Tigers will have to adjust to being without the senior against the nation’s No. 2-ranked scoring defense in the Cavaliers.

Aamir Simms and David Skara are expected to replace Grantham in the lineup.

GAMEDAY SETUP

CLEMSON (16-3, 5-2 ACC) vs. VIRGINIA (18-1, 7-0 ACC)

Date: Today

Tipoff: 7:05 p.m. ET

Arena: John Paul Jones Arena (14,593)

Radio: CTN (Don Munson-pbp; Tim Bourret-color)

TV: RSN (Tom Werme-pbp; Corey Alexander-color)

  • Clemson is 53-73 all-time against Virginia, including a 17-43 mark in Charlottesville.
  • The Tigers have lost six in a row in the series.
  • The last time Clemson was ranked in the series, however, was a 75-57 victory on March 3, 2009.
  • The last time both teams were ranked entering the game, the Tigers won 62-52 on the road on Dec. 7, 1996.
  • In the second half of Clemson’s win over Notre Dame (Jan. 20) senior leader Donte Grantham tore his ACL and is out for the season.

SERIES HISTORY
CU Series W-L record: Clemson is 53-73 all-time against Virginia.
Streak: The Cavaliers have won six in a row in the series.

TIGER TRACKS

  • With a 67-58 win over Notre Dame on Jan. 20, the Tigers have now won 200 ACC games in Littlejohn Coliseum.
  • Clemson’s record against ACC opponents in Littlejohn now stands at 200-157 (.560).
  • Clemson is 4-0 against ACC opponents this season on its home floor.
  • Overall, the Tigers are 11-0 at home this season.
  • Clemson moved up two spots in the AP Top 25 poll this week (No. 18) – its highest mark in the AP Poll since Jan. 18, 2010 (17th). Clemson is also ranked in the USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 17. Clemson’s RPI checks in at sixth nationally.
  • Marcquise Reed has now put together the longest free throw streak of the season for the Tigers. Reed has now connected on 14 in a row from the Miami game through the Notre Dame game. (Jan. 13-Jan. 20).
  • In the latest KenPom rankings, the Tigers are ranked Nos. 13, 12 and 33 in overall, adjusted defensive efficiency (92.3) and adjusted offensive efficiency (114.8).
  • Clemson’s resume features five Top 40 Ken Pom wins.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS

UVA is led by tri-captains Devon Hall, Isaiah Wilkins and Jack Salt.

  • The Cavaliers average 69.6 points per game (second most under Ben- nett) on offense, while yielding a nation-leading 52.4 ppg (second lowest in school history) on defense.
  • UVA has started Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, Hall, Wilkins and Salt in each of its 19 games.
  • Guy leads the team in scoring at 15.3 points per game and has reached double figures in 16 games, including a career-high 29 points at VCU, 22 vs. Syracuse and 21 vs. Lehigh.
  • Hall has averaged 12.6 points, which is 4.2 points higher than last year’s average of 8.4 points.
  • Wilkins is averaging team-highs in rebounds (7.0), blocked shots (1.68) and steals (1.47).
  • Jerome is averaging 9.4 points and Salt has chipped in 3.9 rebounds per game and 17 blocked shots.
  • Redshirt freshman De’Andre Hunter (8.0 ppg) has reached double figures in five of the last six games, including team highs at Georgia Tech (17) and Virginia Tech (14).
  • Graduate transfer Nigel Johnson is averaging 5.8 points and Mamadi Diakite has added 5.1 ppg & 3.3 rpg.
  • Jay Huff and Marco Anthony provide depth and fellow rookie Francesco Badocchi is redshirting the 2017-18 season.

–Staff Reports