Clemson @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 27, 2019 ) Clemson 62, Pittsburgh 48

Justin Champagnie has been a mainstay on Pittsburgh's team since opening night, but Saturday he stepped up into a starring role. The freshman will seek his third consecutive 20-point game when Clemson visits Wednesday.

Champagnie scored a career-high 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting, added nine rebounds, a block and two steals in the Panthers' 73-64 win over Georgia Tech on Saturday. “I mean it was a great moment for me. It's a big confidence booster, but at the same time it's on to the next game. I can't just dwell on me having a good game this game. My teammates expect me to play good. I mean it felt good, but it’s just a moment. We just have to get ready for the next game.” The 6-6 forward is averaging 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 52.6 percent from the field over the past six games. Clemson will be trying to avoid a fourth consecutive loss for the second time this season after Sunday's 61-57 loss to Notre Dame.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET TV: ACC Network

ABOUT CLEMSON (11-12, 5-8 ACC): Freshman Alex Hemenway (5.6 points), just four games back from a severe high-ankle injury that sidelined him for more than two months, scored a career-best 16 points, finishing 5-for-8 from the field and 4-for-7 from behind the 3-point line against Notre Dame. “He made a couple shots in the second half of the Louisville game and then made some big shots for us tonight,” said Clemson coach Brad Brownell. “Hopefully he can build off of that and take advantage of the opportunities he is getting.” Tevin Mack (12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds) also scored 16 points with six rebounds and three steals, but the rest of the team shot a combined 9-of-32 (28 percent).

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (15-9, 6-7): Xavier Johnson (12 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists), who is averaging 12.4 points and 6.0 assists per game with a 2.67:1 assist-to-turnover ratio over the past eight games, averaged 22 points on 14-of-23 shooting from the field, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range, in a pair of contests against Clemson last season. Sophomore forward Au'Diese Toney (8.6 points, 5.1 rebounds) is shooting 50.8 percent from the field over the past 19 games - averaging 9.6 points per game with six double-figure scoring efforts in that span - after starting the season 8-of-31 from the floor. The Panthers have surpassed their season win total from a year ago and have exceeded their ACC win total from the previous two seasons combined.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pitt has won four consecutive ACC home games and is looking for its first five-game conference home win streak since winning the final two home games of the 2012-13 season and the first three home conference games of the 2013-14 campaign.

2. Clemson F Aamir Simms (13.4 points, 7.4 rebounds) was unable to suit up against Notre Dame due to flu-related symptoms.

3. The Panthers rank third in the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (11.96) and offensive rebound percentage (33.3). Champagnie has a team-high 57 offensive boards, while Toney and Eric Hamilton have 44 and 40 offensive rebounds, respectively.

PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 68, Clemson 59