Getting to Know The Clemson Tigers

Clemson hosts NC State this Wednesday night at 8 o’clock with coverage on The ACC Network. Wednesday night will mark the second of their three-game homestand to close out their regular season. The Tigers are 14-14 and 4-12 in ACC play. What do you need to know about Clemson before Wednesday night?

Clemson fell to the Seminoles 76-74 in their last game.

Their last two contests have come down to the final possession for the Tigers. They lost to both Virginia Tech and Florida State by a combined three points. Jarron Blossomgame had a big game against the Noles scoring 24 points as well as recording eight rebounds. In addition to Blossomgame, Sidy Djitte provided 12 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. Clemson couldn’t pull off the victory as Florida State was able to hold on to their lead because of their free-throw shooting. The Noles connected on 23-28 attempts from the charity strip.

Jaron Blossomgame has been outstanding in his senior season.

The 6’7″ do it all forward is averaging 17.4 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game. Jaron presents matchup problems because of his size and athleticism. Throughout his career, he has given the Tigers versatility on the perimeter. Last season Blossomgame scored 33 points against the Wolfpack in their lone matchup of the season. The Tigers still lost despite Jaron’s big game and even though they only committed one turnover on the day. Look for Jaron to have a big game Wednesday night as his Clemson career is coming to a close.

Rebounds have been an Achilles heel for the Tigers this season.

Clemson ranks second to last in RPG in ACC play at 31.2 per. Their inability to rebound has caused them to lose close games and has hurt their team defense because of second chance points. Clemson is currently sporting a negative rebounding margin of 3.6 in ACC play. With so many close losses on the season, their record of 4-12 in conference play could be improved with a few more rebounds to save possessions as well as end them.

Margins are slim in the ACC and Clemson has been on the wrong side a couple of times this season. They will need to find a way to rebound the basketball this Wednesday if they are going to notch their fifth ACC win of the season. The Tigers have two more games on the season as they host NC State and Boston College to close out conference play. They could be a tough out in the ACC Tournament if they can gain some momentum in their last two games.