Heading into this Syracuse basketball vs Clemson matchup, here are the 5 things you need to know heading into this game Wednesday night.
This is a pivotal ACC clash on Wednesday night in the Carrier Dome between the Syracuse basketball squad and the Clemson Tigers.
With both teams having some issues in the nonconference, it’s pretty important to change the narrative.
Syracuse (losses in nonconference)
- UConn, 83-76
- Oregon, 80-65
- Old Dominion, 68-62
- No. 14 Buffalo, 71-59
Clemson (losses in nonconference)
- Creighton, 87-82
- Nebraska, 68-66
- No. 22 Mississippi State, 82-71
Both teams are going to need to play catch up in the ACC. Luckily playing in the strongest conference in all of college basketball presents many of those opportunities.
Clemson is on the road and getting a win at the Carrier Dome could prove to be a win that is looked upon with great favor from the NCAA and the new net rankings system. While the Orange need to get some cushion early in ACC play, because they’re going to have one of the toughest finishes of any school in college basketball this season.
But before you watch the big game, we spoke with Andrew Boardwine, the Site Expert at Rubbing the Rock (FanSided sister site that covers all things Clemson) about the 5 big questions that need to be answered ahead of this ACC clash.
5. What were the expectations for the Clemson Tigers heading into this season?
Honestly, I think Clemson basketball fans came into this season with too lofty of expectations for the season.
After reaching the Sweet-16 and battling with Kansas last year, I think Tiger fans came into this year expecting Clemson to be a top-10 team in the country. While there’s plenty of talent there and room to grow, they certainly haven’t been that as of yet.
I do, however, believe that it’s still reasonable to expect the Tigers to make the NCAA Tournament and to compete in the ACC. They’re not going to win the conference or be one of the top two or three teams, but there’s still hope that they could be among the top-five at the end of the year. It’s all going to depend on if they can get going defensively, stay healthy and get some of those guys going that just haven’t had the best starts to begin the season.
4. This seems to be a veteran laden team, how much does that stabilize this team during tough times?
We’re about to see just how good that veteran leadership truly is. Clemson has an absolutely brutal stretch to begin conference play.
The Tigers opened with Duke on the road. They competed in the first half before just being outmatched and out-manned in the second half. Now, they’ve got Syracuse on the road and No. 4 Virginia at home before getting Georgia Tech at home. Then Clemson will travel to No. 13 Florida State and No. 15 NC State.
It’s going to be important for those veterans to step up and find a way to make shots down the stretch and win some of these games. It’s a brutal stretch to open the conference slate, but that’s what happens when you play in the ACC.
Now, back to the question. Guys like Marcquise Reed, Shelton Mitchell, David Skara and Elijah Thomas have been here before. They know what it’s like and what it takes to turn tough stretches around and I think they’ll be able to do just that.
3. Clemson has basically five double digit scorers on offense, how special is this starting unit?
The starting unit has been very good- when healthy- offensively. The trouble has been the defense and bench scoring.
It’s just tough to find any balance in scoring when you’re having to rely on your starters for basically all but maybe 10-13 of your points per game, but that’s College Basketball for you. Marcquise Reed is currently averaging 19.6 and Shelton Mitchell has upped his average to 13.6 after having a rough start to the season. Elijah Thomas is also at 13.6 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game.
The group is starting to mesh better together- well except for the Duke game where nothing seemed to go right- and I think those starters are beginning to get more comfortable in their roles. But, it’s really tough to tell so far.
When the only sample size you have in conference play is on the road at Duke, it’s really just too early to tell what kind of team this will be and how these starters will play together as we get into the thick of the schedule.
2. What is the keys to victory in this game for the Tigers?
In my opinion, it’s two-fold. Shoot the three well and guard the three well.
For Clemson to win this game, you’ve got to see guys like Reed, Mitchell and Clyde Trapp hitting from the outside. The Tigers have been too inconsistent this season shooting the ball.
Now, the good thing is that shooting typically picks up as the season progresses. The bad thing is that Clemson doesn’t have much more time to try to develop shooting. We’re here in conference play now and all these games matter in getting back to the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers are statistically one of the worst teams in the nation in guarding the three. That doesn’t bode well for them if that trend continues.
Luckily, they started to look better guarding the outside perimeter in the past few games and I think they’re making progress, but this game against Syracuse will be the first real indicator to us just what this team has to work on and what they’ll be able to do in ACC play.
1. Finally a prediction how do you see this game playing out?
I do believe that the Tigers will compete in this one, but with it being on the road, I like Syracuse. The Orange have had some struggles early, but I do think they’re a very well-coached team with plenty of talent.
It will be close. Neither team will be winning this one by double digits and I actually like Clemson if this one was to get down to a free throw battle, but I’m not going against the Orange at home. I think Syracuse wins something around 73-67 and the Tigers fall to 0-2 in ACC play.