The struggling Wahoos (14-10, 5-6) leave the somewhat (recently) unfriendly confines of the JPJ and head down to Clemson for a key ACC match-up Saturday at 4 p.m. Virginia has figuratively and literally fallen apart lately as they have been on the losing end of four straight ACC contests.
Clemson (18-7, 6-5) is led by potential All-ACC Senior forward Trevor Booker who averages 15.4 points a game, 8.2 rebounds and is currently 8th on the Tigers all-time scoring list. Clemson (#35 RPI) has won two in a row in conference with home wins over Miami and Florida State. Clemson is in the midst of a very rare late season three-game home-stand. The Tigers are very similar to Virginia as they only have two players averaging in double-figures (Booker, Stitt). Virginia counters with Scott and Landesberg, but gets very little scoring out of anyone else. The Tigers have added tremendous scoring (54 points) from their bench in the past two wins, and Virginia is going to have to find some more bench scoring options if they have a chance Saturday. Clemson has beaten two top-15 foes this season (UNC, Butler). It’s been a hell of a long time since Virginia could say that! The Tigers are 8-0 when they get to the line more than their opponents this season. That’s a very telling storyline!
Virginia leads the series all-time 65-50, and if Clemson finds a way to win they will have won consecutive games over the Hoos for the first time since 2002-2003. Sylven Landesberg is coming off one of his worst games as a Hoo as he only scored 4 points on 2-8 shooting Wednesday night at home against the much more athletic and physically-gifted Florida State Seminoles. Coach Tony Bennett actually benched Landesberg in that game for several key minutes in what certainly looked to me like punishment for playing horrific defense.
The Hoos can win this game, but Vegas sure as hell does not think they have a chance as Clemson is between a 10 and 11 point favorite. I think Clemson wins big, 83-60. Go Hoos!