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Clemson Tigers (19-8. 7-6) @ Florida St. Seminoles (20-7, 8-5)
When: 5:30 PM, FSS
KenPom Ranking: FSU 15, Clemson 17. FSU is ranked #2 in defensive efficiency, 10th in eFG defense, 5th in block percentage, but other than offensive rebounding none of their offensive stats are terribly impressive. They're ranked below Clemson in many offensive categories.
Top Scorers: C Solomon Alabi (12.0ppg, 6.5rpg), F Chris Singleton (11.0ppg, 7.5 rpg), G Derwin Kitchen (8.7ppg, 4.6rpg, 3.9 apg). Luke Loucks scored 15 in game 1, Alabi 14, and Singleton was held to 6.
The Noles have won all 3 games since losing to us at Littlejohn, but they havent exactly faced the toughest competition. They beat UVA by 19, @ UNC by 10, and BC. FSU is 12-2 at home. Since the first game, here are a few statistical comparisons.
“Things are still bunched up,” Clemson coach Oliver Purnell whose team faces Florida State today in Tallahassee, Fla. “So this is a really critical game for us
Clemson, which is one win away from a fourth consecutive 20-win season, and Florida State, which has won three straight games since a 10-point loss at Clemson on Feb. 10, are in similar positions and have similar desires.
“Both teams would definitely like to have a bye (in the ACC Tournament) and both teams would like to pad their tournament resumes,” Purnell said.
Overall, ACC teams are 24-57 in league games away from home, which translates to a meager 29-percent success rate.
“It has always been tough (to win ACC road games),” Purnell said. “First of all, teams are good. Second of all, the environments are rabid.” (GNews)
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Junior point guard Demontez Stitt said his team lost its collective cool at Comcast Center.
“It’s easy, when you’re not at home to let the crowd get to you, it’s easy to lose focus,” he said. “Against Maryland we lost our focus. (When) you’re home, you’re into it, the crowd is into it, it’s a lot of energy involved, especially with the way that we play.
“On the road we have to learn to create our own energy to stay focused. The road is harder to do that, when the other team’s crowd is into it, it’s loud, it’s easy to lose focus, and get off into your own thing.”(AIM)