Basketball Clashes with Cavaliers Saturday at 2:00 PM

Feb. 24, 2006

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Virginia at ClemsonSaturday, February 25, 2006

Clemson Basketball Press Conference Media PlayerEvent Download the Free Real Player.Oliver Purnell Audio Preview (9:57) Six of Clemson’s 11 losses havebeen by six points or less or in overtime. That includes the firstmeeting between Clemson and Virginia, a game Clemson led by a pointwith 1:33 left. • Clemson leads the ACC in offensive rebounds pergame (14.4) and steals (11.0) and is second in forcing turnovers (19.1) Freshman K.C. Rivers has scored in double figures in each ofhis last four games, including a season high 16 at Wake Forest. Hehas averaged 13.0 points per game over the four contests. He scoredall 16 of those points in the last nine minutes of regulation andthe overtime. He scored 11 consecutive points at one stretch, thelong streak of the year by a Tiger. Rivers is sixth among ACCfreshmen in scoring (7.8) and second in rebounding (4.9) VernonHamilton played 28 minutes off the bench against Wake Forest as hecontinues to recover from a chipped bone in his left elbow and asprained left thumb. He had three more steals and now has 68 forthe year, just five off the Clemson single season record of 73 setby Chris Whitney in 1992-93. Hamilton needs just eight steals totie Terrell McIntyre’s career record of 194. Hamilton has a 2.2steals per game career average, 13th best in ACC history. Hamiltonleads the ACC in steals and is trying to become the first Clemsonplayer in history to pace the conference. Clemson saw its streak ofconsecutive games shooting at least 70 percent from the line end atWake Forest when the Tigers were 6-9, but the Tigers have made 78of 102 from the line over the last six games, a .765 figure.Clemson is a perfect 7-0 in home games on February 25 over theyears. Outside of a 1-0 record on Feb. 29, it is the only date onthe calendar in which Clemson has a perfect record at home betweenJanuary 1 and March 1. Shawan Robinson has scored in double figuresin seven of his last eight games and is averaging 16.3 points pergame during that time. Robinson continues to lead the ACC in FT %,and ranks third in the nation with a .923. It would be third bestin ACC history for a season and the best in Clemson history. He istrying to become the first Clemson player to lead the ACC in freethrow shooting since Jim Sutherland in 1966-67. Clemson andVirginia are a combined 23-5 when leading at halftime and 5-15combined when they trail at intermission. Clemson has made 22three-point goals to just 10 by the opposition over the last twogames. Clemson is 65th in the latest Sagarin rankings and Virginiastands 58th.