A key battle between the two teams tied for second in the ACC standings awaits as 11th-ranked Clemson hosts No. 12 Duke today at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson at 1 p.m.
The Blue Devils are looking for their fifth win over a ranked team this season (4-2) and third overall. The Tigers have won four of their last five games, and are spotless at home this season (13-0).
GAMEDAY SETUP
CLEMSON (20-5, 9-4 ACC) vs. DUKE (21-5, 9-4 ACC)
Date: Today
Tipoff: 1:06 p.m. ET
Arena: Littlejohn Coliseum (9,000)
Radio: CTN (Don Munson-pbp; Tim Bourret-color)
TV: RSN (Wes Durham-pbp; Mike Gminski-color)
- Clemson is 31-107 all-time against Duke.
- The Tigers have won two-of-the-last-five matchups with the Blue Devils.
- The Tigers are 23-38 all-time at home against Duke.
- The last time Clemson entered a contest with Duke as the higher ranked team was in 1996-97 when a No. 5 ranked Clemson team beat a No. 10 ranked Duke team in overtime, 86-82.
- Clemson made it five-straight contests with at least 10-made 3-pointers in a loss to Florida State this past Wednesday.
- Redshirt-junior guard Shelton Mitchell is doubtful after sustaining a concussion toward the end of the Tigers’ contest at Florida State.
SERIES HISTORY
CU Series W-L record: Clemson is 31-107 all-time.
Streak: The Tigers have won two-of-the-last-five matchups.
TIGER TRACKS
- The Tigers’ leading scorer, Marcquise Reed, tied his career-high with a 25-point effort at Florida State (Feb. 14).
- With the game going to overtime, Reed played a career-high 45 minutes.
- Aamir Simms netted a career-high against Florida State with 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting – making two threes.
- Simms’ four made field goals and two made threes tied a career-best.
- With three more 3-pointers at FSU, Gabe DeVoe is now tied for 11th all-time in the Clemson record book for threes in a career (146). He can enter the top 10 today.
- In the latest KenPom rankings, the Tigers are ranked Nos. 15, 11 and 37 in overall, adjusted defensive efficiency (93.6) and adjusted offensive efficiency (114.7).
- Clemson enters the Duke game with a 9-4 conference record. A victory in Clemson would tie the program record for ACC wins in a season. Clemson has had 10 ACC wins five times previously with the last two times coming under Brad Brownell. The Tigers were 10-8 in 2013-14 and 2015-16.
- The Clemson record for wins in any conference is 11. Clemson was 11-4 in the Southern Conference under Head Coach Banks McFadden in 1951-52.
SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS
- For the third straight game, Duke will be without forward Marvin Bagley, who is listed as out with a knee injury.
- The Blue Devils are looking for their fifth win over a ranked team this season (4-2). Under head coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke is 221-144 versus ranked teams, including an 80-46 mark versus ranked ACC teams.
- Freshman Wendell Carter, Jr., brings a streak of 16 straight double-figure games to Clemson. He is the only ACC player shooting .600+ from the field.
- Gary Trent, Jr., leads the ACC in three-point shooting — both overall (.460; 74/161) and in ACC play (.505; 46/91). His overall percentage of .460 leads all NCAA freshmen.
- Trent has made 20 of his last 33 (.606), 42 of his last 71 (.592), and 59 of his last 110 (.536) from three-point range.
- Trent (74) and Grayson Allen (67) have combined for 141 three-pointers this season, the fourth-best tandem in among major conference teams.
—Staff Reports
–Photo Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports