Jordan Roper can’t quite put his hands on it, but for some reason Clemson has had success at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Fla., under head coach Brad Brownell.
The Tigers, who come into today’s game as winners in six of their first eight ACC contest, have won their last two games at Florida State and hope to extend that streak to three when the two teams tip it off at noon on Fox Sports South.
“That’s just a credit to the coaching staff. They come up with a great game plan and they give us confidence to go out there and play free minded,” Roper said. “We go out there and execute and the past two times we have been good.”
Clemson (13-7, 6-2 ACC) has been executing at a high level for almost a month now. It’s the reason why it has won six of its last seven games. In their eight ACC games to this point, the Tigers are shooting 45 percent from the field overall, 38 percent from three-point range and 79 percent from the foul line.
Four different guys are averaging at least 10 points per game in conference play with forward Jaron Blossomgame leading the way with 16.6 points. The junior has scored at least 22 points in each of the last three games.
“In basketball you always want that one guy you can look to that can get your team a basket and get a team going offensively,” Roper said. “He has been that spark for us this whole year. That’s a role he stepped into and I think that is something he has embraced this whole season. He is doing an unbelievable job so far.”
Roper and the rest of the gang are not too far behind Blossomgame’s lead. Roper is averaging 11.4 points per game, while Avery Holmes is averaging 10.3 points and center Landry Nnoko 10.1.
“His work ethic from this past summer all the way to now … He has stepped up as a leader both vocally and on the court and it is definitely paying off,” Roper said.
Roper’s leadership is paying off as well, especially the last time they played the Seminoles. The senior guard tallied a game-high 23 points in the Tigers’ 84-75 victory in Greenville on Jan. 2. He was 7 of 11 from the floor, including 7 of 10 from behind the arc.
Roper scored 13 points and had four assists against FSU last year at the Tucker Center, and is averaging 9.7 points per game against the Seminoles in his career. The Tigers have won the last two regular season games in the series.
“I know they are a really talented team and they have a lot of talented pieces and we are going to give them our best shot because we know they are a talented team,” Roper said.
But despite that talent, Florida State (13-7, 3-5 ACC) has struggled since its loss to Clemson earlier this month. It has lost five of its last eight games, including three of four in the Tucker Center.
“They are still a very talented team. They know how to win,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said. “Those guys have been a part of a lot of good teams there. They have a couple of younger players they are trying to mix into their rotation and those guys are growing every day. They’re better players now than when we first played them. They have been through a bunch of ACC games as opposed to that being their first ACC game.
“It takes time and we showed that as well as anybody. Florida State is more than capable of beating anybody in this league.”
The Tigers just hope it doesn’t start today.
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If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.
