Countdown to tip off: No. 20 Clemson visits Wake Forest
By: will-vandervort February 3, 2018

After getting the last three days following its first victory over No. 19 North Carolina in eight years, the 20th-ranked Clemson Tigers travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., today to take on Wake Forest.

The Demon Deacons are coming of an emotional win as well this week as they knocked off Florida State on Wednesday to snap a seven-game losing streak.

The Tigers are 6-4 away from Littlejohn Coliseum this year, including a 2-3 record in ACC road games.

GAMEDAY SETUP

CLEMSON (18-4, 7-3 ACC) at WAKE FOREST (9-13, 2-8 ACC)

Date: Today

Tipoff: 2 p.m.

Arena: LJVM Coliseum (14,665)

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

TV: RSN (Tom Werme-pbp; Dan Bonner-color)

  • Clemson trails the all-time series 99-61. However, the Tigers have won four in a row and 9-of-the-last-10 contests.
  • Last season the Tigers swept the season series from the Demon Deacons, including a 95-83 win in Winston-Salem.
  • The Tigers lost 87-79 earlier this season in Chapel Hill.
  • Gabe DeVoe notched back-to-back games with five 3-pointers in wins over Georgia Tech (Jan. 28) and North Carolina (Jan. 30).
  • He is the first player since 2009 to make at least five threes in back-to-back games – tying Terrence Oglesby.

SERIES HISTORY
CU Series W-L record: Clemson is 61-99 all-time against Wake Forest.
Streak: The Tigers have won four in a row and 9-of-the-last-10.

TIGER TRACKS

  •  Clemson is ranked for the fifth consecutive week in the AP Top 25 poll (No. 20). Clemson is also ranked in the USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 20
  • Clemson’s RPI checks in at fifth nationally.
  • With a win over North Carolina on Jan. 30, the Tigers have now begun ACC play 7-3.
  • Clemson tied the school record for most threes made by the home team in Littlejohn Coliseum with that performance against UNC
  • It is the seventh time in Clemson history (in 64 ACC seasons) that a Tiger team has started league play with at least a 7-3 record through 10 games.
  • Clemson guard Marquise Reed led Clemson in scoring, rebounding and assists in the win over North Carolina. We refer to that accomplishment as a “Triple Leadership”, a rare occurrence. It marked the first time in almost exactly 10 years that a Clemson player had a “Triple Leadership” at home.
  • In the latest KenPom rankings, the Tigers are ranked Nos. 16, 16 and 33 in overall, adjusted defensive efficiency (94.0) and adjusted offensive efficiency (114.7).

SCOUTING WAKE FOREST

  • Wake Forest ranks fourth in the ACC in 3-point percentage at 38.3
  • In ACC play, Wake Forest is fifth in the conference at 37.8 percent from 3-point range, making 7.9 triples per game
  • The Deacs have made at least eight 3-pointers in six of 10 ACC games this season
  • Seven different Deacs have made multiple 3-pointers in a game this season (only six Deacs accomplished the feat last season)
  • Bryant Crawford ranks ninth in Wake Forest history with 420 career assists
  • His total is fourth in school history through his junior season, 10 away from second place
  • He is the active ACC leader in career assists and second nationally among juniors (Jon Elmore of Marshall)
  • Mitchell Wilbekin has started his last 17 games for the Demon Deacons and has seen his offensive production go up
  • Wilbekin (ankle) is unlikely to play today against Clemson, per Danny Manning.
  • As a starter, Wilbekin is averaging 9.2 points per game and is shooting 40.7 percent (48-118) from the floor and 44.4 percent (32- 72) from 3-point range

–Staff Reports