As good as having the last five days off was Clemson also would have loved to have kept playing.
Before the break, one could argue that no one in the ACC was playing as well as the 11th-ranked Tigers. They have won four straight, including two games on the road and a win over No. 14 North Carolina in the friendly confines of Littlejohn Coliseum.
The Tigers (20-4, 9-3 ACC) have also shot lights out in those four games, led by sharp shooter Gabe DeVoe, who made 22 three-pointers over that stretch.
“Sometimes when you have been playing the way we have been playing and shooting the ball the way we have been shooting, it almost feels better if you were playing games just because there is a rhythm there and a confidence that comes with regularity of performance,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said.
But, Clemson does not get the luxury of making its own conference schedule and the ACC had them off following last Thursday’s, 72-48, win over Pittsburgh. The Tigers made 45.8 percent of their shots, including 12-of-27 from three, in the victory.
Clemson has made at least 10 three-pointers for four consecutive games.
“Yeah, in some ways that part would have been nice (to keep playing), I think,” Brownell said. “To have had a game and certainly build off what we have been doing lately with another good crowd and another fun environment like we had last Thursday.
“It would have been great to have had another weekend home game and kind of back that up.”
As good as it might have been to keep playing and keep the rhythm going, it was also a good time for a break for the Tigers, especially for guard Marcquise Reed, who was battling the flu last week in the Pitt game. Brownell gave his team last weekend off, which he said the guys really enjoyed and so did the coaches.
“Obviously, there is some good in taking a day or two off and kind of recharging the batteries,” he said. “As important as anything, Marquise is feeling better. He was really fighting it against Pitt and I think he will be better this week, so that is good.”
The rested Tigers return to action later today when they take on Florida State at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee at 7 p.m. The Seminoles come in on a two-game losing streak after losses to Virginia and Notre Dame last week.
FSU (17-8, 6-7 ACC) currently sits in 10th place in the ACC standings. Clemson comes into tonight’s game in second place, a game ahead of Duke and North Carolina and a game and a half in front of Louisville. The top four teams receive a double-bye in the ACC Tournament and the top nine get a first-round bye.
“Obviously, we have another big week against Florida State and Duke, but that is life in this league,” Brownell said. “We just have to continue to work at it… I’m just anxious to see how we perform.”