Syracuse @ Clemson preview
Littlejohn Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Jan 28, 2020 ) Syracuse 70, Clemson 71
Clemson and Syracuse will collide Saturday afternoon in a key matchup of Atlantic Coast Conference teams looking to strengthen their postseason position.
Both teams enter the game at .500 in ACC play and Clemson coach Brad Brownell would like to see his team have some carryover from Tuesday's 13-point victory over North Carolina, the first of three consecutive home games for the Tigers.
"It's real nice to have another home game," Brownell said. "Our players needed an off day, to get off their feet, to relax. We have a talented Syracuse team coming next, but it's nice not to have to travel."
Clemson (11-5, 5-5 in ACC) is showing some mettle following an 11-day break for COVID-19 protocols and a mid-season swoon that saw the Tigers lose four of five games by an average margin of 24.5 points.
But recent wins against then-No. 25 Louisville and North Carolina have bolstered the Tigers' hopes as well as their resume, which includes an ACC-best nine victories against Power 5 teams.
"Our guys had been in a rut and they lost a little spirit," Brownell said. "But we've won two of three and rallied and beaten two pretty good teams. I think our guys have come out of it a little bit and hopefully we'll play better down the stretch."
The key to the Tigers' recent success has been defense. Clemson held both Louisville and North Carolina to 50 points and ranks second in the ACC in scoring defense, allowing 62.7 points per game.
That defense will be tested against Syracuse (10-5, 4-4), which is scoring at a 77.7 clip -- second-best in the ACC.
"Clemson is a good team, a good defensive team," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "It's not that easy to play against them."
Particularly at Clemson. The Orange are 1-4 all-time on Clemson's home court and have lost there each of the past two years, including a 71-70 defeat last season on Clyde Trapp's layup with two seconds remaining. The Tigers are 7-1 at home this season.
Syracuse, however, has played well of late, winning three of its last four games, including a come-from-behind victory against North Carolina State. The Orange won by three points after trailing by nine points at the half.
But Boeheim reiterated this week that big man Marek Dolezaj must have more help defensively.
"He's fighting a war out there by himself," Boeheim said. "We've got to help him on the defensive end if we're going to have any success the rest of the way."
The Orange appear to be in good stead offensively, with five players averaging in double figures, led by forward Quincy Guerrier, who has seven double-doubles this season and leads the team in scoring (16.3) and rebounding (9.5).
--Field Level Media