Jacksonville @ Clemson preview

Clemson's offense appeared to be headed in the right direction after rebounding from a tough defeat in its season opener with a five-game winning streak, but the wheels have fallen off recently against tougher competition and led to the team's longest skid in nearly three years. The Tigers attempt to snap a four-game losing streak and find a solution to some of their offensive woes Friday when they host Jacksonville.

A poor shooting effort in a 67-60 loss to Virginia Tech on Nov. 5 got Clemson off on the wrong foot this season, but the Tigers rebounded by averaging 83.5 points against four straight mid-major opponents at home. Clemson struggled again in a 62-60 overtime victory over TCU in the MGM Resorts Main Event on Nov. 24 and hasn't come close to recapturing its form since, averaging 58.5 points while dropping four straight. Clemson's offense has really bogged down in the last two contests, shooting 32 percent while averaging 53.5 points in losses to Florida State and South Carolina. The Dolphins, who have dropped a pair of 19-point decisions to the only major-conference foes they have faced so far (Xavier and Marquette), buried a season-high 13 3-pointers en route to a 81-58 win at Presbyterian on Wednesday.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ACC Network

ABOUT JACKSONVILLE (7-6): Destin Barnes (team-high 11.6 points) led the Dolphins' 3-point assault in Wednesday's victory, matching a career high for the second time in three games and fourth time this season by knocking down five triples; the 6-7 junior is averaging 16.3 points over his last four outings (9.6 over his first nine games). David Bell (11.5 points, 10.1 boards) managed only two points and three rebounds in 18 minutes versus the Blue Hose but had posted all of his Atlantic Sun-best six double-doubles over the previous seven contests. Freshman guard Mo Arnold (3.8 points) enjoyed his finest game as a collegian Wednesday, burying four 3-pointers while reaching double figures for the first time with 14 points.

ABOUT CLEMSON (5-5): Aamir Simms (12.3 points, 8.0 rebounds) has been one of the few Tigers that has consistently produced of late, averaging 15.8 points after scoring 21 points before fouling out in Sunday's 67-54 setback to the Gamecocks. Alabama graduate transfer Tevin Mack (12.7 points) continues to lead the team in scoring, but he has managed a total of 30 points on 10-of-33 from the field over the last four contests after averaging 17.4 points and converting 34 of his 57 field-goal attempts during the Tigers' winning streak. Clemson anticipates getting back Clyde Trapp from offseason knee surgery sometime before the end of the month; the junior guard was expected to start this season before tearing his ACL in June.

TIP-INS

1. Clemson averaged 38 rebounds in its first five contests but just 28.6 over its last five.

2. The Dolphins have nailed at least 12 3-pointers in a game three times in 2019-20. Prior to this season, they had only accomplished the feat 20 times in their 53-year program history.

3. The Tigers have attempted 59 3-pointers versus only 44 2-point attempts over their last two games.

PREDICTION: Clemson 73, Jacksonville 64