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Clemson Prepares For N.C. State

Clemson Prepares For N.C. State

Feb. 24, 2000

Quick Facts

Clemson All-ACC candidate Will Solomon has scored 32.83 percent of Clemson’s points this year. He is trying to become the first ACC player since 1970-71 (Charlie Davis of Wake Forest) to score at least a third of his team’s points in a season. Solomon is 11th in the nation in scoring and 14th in three-point goals/game this week.

Clemson center Adam Allenspach is coming off his finest game as a Tiger against an ACC opponent. He had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to Maryland. Allenspach has now had back to back double-doubles for the first time in his career. Over the last two games he has averaged 17.5 points and 10 rebounds a game. He has made 17 of his last 19 free throws and is now shooting 74.5 percent from the foul line for the year. Only one Clemson center in the last 40 years (Murray Jarman, 1983-84) has shot over 72 percent from the line.

Clemson won the first meeting between the two teams this year, 59-42 at Clemson. Will Solomon scored 15 points to lead the Tigers, while three other Tigers scored in double figures. Clemson held NC State to 30 percent field goal shooting and forced 19 Wolfpack turnovers.

Clemson has a +5.5 rebounds per game and ranks 17th in the nation in rebound margin this week.

Andrius Jurkunas needs five three-point goals to move into third place in Clemson history in career three-point goals. He has 134, David Young had 138.

Clemson had just five turnovers in its 13-point loss to Maryland last Tuesday. That tied for the second fewest turnovers in a game in Clemson history. It came against a Maryland team that had been forcing an ACC best 19 turnovers per game.

Will Solomon needs just nine points to break Butch Zatezalo’s Clemson sophomore scoring record. He has 544, Butch had 552 in 1967-68.

No Clemson (9-17, 3-10) Pos NO NC State (15-10, 5-9)
1 Will Solomon 6-1 170 So. G 12 Justin Gainey 6-0 180 Sr.
(20.9 PPG., 4.0 RPG) (8.5 PPG., 2.8 APG)
10 Edward Scott 6-0 160 Fr. G 2 Anthony Grundy 6-2 170 So.
(6.0 PPG., 3.0 RPG) (14.0 PPG., 5.0 RPG)
55 Adam Allenspach 7-1 265 Jr. C 3 Damon Thornton 6-8 237 Jr.
(12.0 PPG., 7.2 RPG ) (10.3 PPG., 7.7 RPG)
3 Andrius Jurkunas 6-9 235 Sr. F 1 Damien Wilkins 6-6 220 Fr.
(7.8 PPG., 5.4 RPG) (10.4 PPG., 6.3 RPG)
42 Chucky Gilmore 6-8 265 So. F 21 Kenny Inge 6-8 220 Jr.
(3.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG ) (9.3 PPG., 5.7 RPG)
Head Coach: Larry Shyatt Head Coach: Herb Sendek
29-32 at Clemson, 2nd year 68-54 at NC State (4th year)
48-41 overall, 3rd year 131-80 overall (7th year)
2-1 vs. NC State 3-4 vs. Clemson

Series Record: NC State leads 86-38 at Raleigh: NC State leads 41-9 at Clemson: NC State leads 26-24 Last Meeting: Clemson, 59-42 at Clemson 1/26/00

Clemson at NC State for Senior Night

The Clemson vs. NC State game in Raleigh will be the first of three consecutive “Senior Night” games for the Tigers. Clemson’s game Sunday at NC State will be the final home game for NC State seniors Justin Gainey and Tim Wells. Next Wednesday, Clemson will meet Duke at Littlejohn Coliseum in Andrius Jurkunas final game at home as a Tiger. Then, on Saturday March 4, Clemson will play at Georgia Tech for Jason Collier and Jason Floyd’s final home game. It will also be the final home game for Tech Coach Bobby Cremins.

Clemson has a 10-27 lifetime record in opposing Senior Night games. The last time Clemson ruined a “Senior Night” game was at NC State in 1997-98. The Tigers defeated NC State 77-72 in what was also Rick Barnes last ACC road game as Clemson coach. That victory was also important in Clemson getting a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Clemson was 0-2 in “Senior Games” last year, losing at Maryland and at Duke. Clemson also won at Georgia Tech in 1996-97 in the Yellow Jackets Senior Night. Clemson had just one Senior Night road win in the decade of the 1980s, at Duke in 1984 in Bill Foster’s final ACC Road game as Clemson head coach.

Clemson is now 1-5 at Georgia Tech, 3-3 at Virginia, 2-7 at Maryland, 0-4 at North Carolina, 2-0 at NC State, 2-6 at Duke, and 0-2 at South Carolina. Clemson has never been Senior Night for Florida State. Clemson defeated two teams on “Senior Night” games in the 1961-62 season. That was also the only year Clemson went to the finals of the ACC Tournament.

Clemson Wins on Opponent Senior Nights

Year Opponent Score
1960-61 Virgnia 85-63
1961-62 Virginia 72-71
Maryland 75-68
1962-63 Virginia 52-50
1975-76 Duke 90-89
1976-77 NC State 68-66
1983-84 Duke 77-76
1992-93 Maryland 81-73
1996-97 Georgia Tech 55-53
1997-98 NC State 77-72

Winning in the Triangle

Over the years Clemson’s basketball team has viewed traveling to the North Carolina Triangle like sailors view boating through the Bermuda Triangle. Clemson has a 13-136 record on the homecourts of North Carolina, Duke and NC State combined. That includes a 20-point loss at North Carolina and a 34-point loss at Duke this year. Those are Clemson’s two largest defeat margins of the season.

The 1994-95 season was the first time in Clemson history that the Tigers had won their first two games in the Triangle and it was just the second time Clemson had won at least two games in the Triangle in the same year. Clemson also won at Duke and N.C. State in 1976-77, Tree Rollins’ senior season. Clemson has never won at North Carolina and obviously has never swept all three games in the North Carolina Triangle.

Clemson’s overall record in the North Carolina Triangle, including conference tournments (ACC or Southern) is 22-156. Cliff Ellis won in the Triangle just twice in 30 games, both at N.C. State (1986-87 and 1993-94, his last appearance in the triangle). Bill Foster had five of the 13 regular season Clemson wins in the Triangle. Rick Barnes had four triangle wins in his four years as head coach.

Clemson has a lifetime record of 9-41 at N.C. State, 4-49 at Duke and 0-46 at North Carolina in regular season play. The list below does not count ACC or Southern Conference Tournament games played in Raleigh. Clemson has won nine games in conference tournaments in Raleigh, including its most successful Southern Conference and ACC Tournaments in history. Clemson won the Southern Conference Tournament in Raleigh in 1939, its only conference tournament championship in history. In 1962 the Tigers advanced to the finals of the ACC Tournament at the Reynolds Coliseum with victories over N.C. State and Duke. It is Clemson’s only appearance in the ACC Tournament Championship game.

Clemson’s Regular Season Wins in the North Carolina Triangle(At UNC, N.C. State or Duke)

Years Opponent Score
1939-40 N.C. State 48-38
1963-64 N.C. State 66-52
1975-76 Duke 90-89
1976-77 Duke 80-73
N.C. State 68-66
1980-81 N.C. State 82-76
1983-84 Duke 77-76
1986-87 N.C. State 78-75
1993-94 N.C. State 82-63
1994-95 Duke 75-70
N.C. State 60-55
1995-96 NC State 80-76
1997-98 NC State 77-72

Clemson’s First Game at New Raleigh Coliseum

Clemson had an all-time record of 8-30 in Reynolds Coliseum in regular season play against the Pack, but the Tigers won four of the last six in the building. Clemson had just four wins in Reynolds Coliseum between 1950 and 1993, but had four in the last six years. Clemson first won in Reynolds in 1963-64, 66-52. Clemson won in the building just once in the 1970s, 68-66 in 1976-77, Tree Rollins senior year. The Tigers won twice in the 1980s, Larry Nance’s senior season (1980-81) and Horace Grant’s senior year (1986-87).

Ironically, one of Clemson’s only two losses in Reynolds the last six years took place in 1996-97, Clemson’s best year over the last eight seasons. Clemson was ranked 8th in the final USA Today poll that season and finished with a 23-10 record. But, the Tigers lost at NC State that year, 58-54. Clemson was 17-2 and ranked 7th in the nation entering the game with a Wolfpack team that had not won an ACC game. But, the Tigers, had just one day to prepare and suffered the upset loss.

Clemson’s Wins Over NC State in Raleigh

*1961-62 67-46
1963-64 66-52
1976-77 68-66
1980-81 82-76
1986-87 78-75
1993-94 82-63
1994-95 60-55
1995-96 80-76
1997-98 77-72
*in ACC Tournament

Clemson Won Southern Conference Title in Raleigh 60 Years Ago

This is the 61-year anniversary of Clemson’s only postseason tournament championship in history. The 1938-39 Tigers, led by All-American Banks McFadden, won four games in the first four days of March in 1939 to claim the Southern Conference championship. The Tigers have not won a postseason tournament title since. The 1939 Southern Conference Tournament was held at Memorial Gym. Reynolds Coliseum had not been built at that time.

Clemson tied for last place in the regular season and had to play North Carolina in the first round. Clemson gained a 44-43 victory. In the second round, Clemson won another close game, 30-28 over favored Wake Forest. The Tigers defeated Davidson, 49-33 in the semifinals, then stopped #1 seed Maryland, 39-27. Clemson never led at halftime in any of the four games.

Clemson’s top performance in the ACC Tournament also took place in Raleigh at Reynolds Coliseum. Clemson upset NC State on its homecourt in the 1962 ACC Tournament, 67-46, then defeated eighth ranked Duke in the semifinals, 77-72. Wake Forest and guard Billy Packer ended Clemson’s dreams of an NCAA bid with a 77-66 victory.

Clemson vs. NC State Series

Clemson and NC State have split their season series each of the last four years. It has not been a series dominated by the home team either. In fact, in four of the last nine games the visiting team has had the upper hand. Clemson won the earlier meeting this year at Clemson, 59-42.

In 1995-96 and 1997-98 the road team won each game, a “road win split”. Clemson had just three road win split season series with ACC teams in the 1990s and two of the three were against NC State. Last year the home team won each game. The Tigers won at Clemson behind two players with at least 20 points, while NC State won in Raleigh thanks to two different players with at least 20 points. Harold Hamison had 25 and Terrell McIntyre added 22. Justin Gainey had 28 on a perfect shooting night (7-7 field goals and 10-10 free throws), while Kenny Inge added 23 in the Wolfpack win in Raleigh.

NC State has an 86-38 record against the Tigers overall, but Clemson has won 11 of the last 15 dating to the second game of the 1992-93 season.

Clemson vs. N.C. State

G-GS Min FG-A 3-A FT-A Reb A-T B-S Pts. Avg.
Allenspach 5-2 75 10-23 0-0 5-9 12 1-6 4-2 25 5.0
Bains 1-1 12 0-1 0-1 2-2 1 2-1 0-0 2 2.0
Braddick 2-0 21 2-5 0-0 0-0 3 1-1 0-1 4 2.0
Crocker 1-0 0+ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0.0
Gilmore 2-1 31 3-6 0-0 0-1 10 0-2 2-1 6 3.0
Holt 1-0 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1-0 0-0 0 0.0
Jurkunas 7-4 152 14-36 7-20 3-6 24 8-8 1-6 38 5.4
Nagys 1-0 4 0-2 0-0 0-0 3 0-2 0-0 0 0.0
Powell 1-0 0+ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0.0
Scott 1-0 34 3-7 1-3 3-4 3 5-3 0-2 10 10.0
Shyatt 1-0 0+ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0.0
Solomon 3-2 67 7-23 1-8 12-19 3 2-8 1-2 27 9.0

Clemson vs. NC State First Meeting

Four Tigers scored in double figures and the Clemson defense held NC State to 30 percent shooting, as Clemson broke a six-game losing streak with a 59-42 win over NC State in Littlejohn Coliseum on January 27th. Clemson had been 0-5 in the ACC prior to the game.

Will Solomon scored 15 points to lead the Tigers in scoring, but it was the play of freshman point guard Edward Scott that provided the spark for Clemson. Coming off the bench and seeing his first playing time in four games, Scott scored 10 points, had three rebounds and five assists. He also had two steals for his 34 minutes of play. Most importantly, he held Justin Gainey to no points and no assists in 27 minutes of play. Gainey had lit up Clemson for 28 points on 7-7 shooting the last time the two teams met.

Adam Allenspach added 12 points, while Andrius Jurkunas had 10. It was the second straight double figure scoring game for Jurkunas, the first time this year he has put back to back double figure scoring games together. Chucky Gilmore added 10 rebounds for the Tigers, who are ranked 14th in the country in rebounding.

Clemson’s defense held NC State to just 42 points, its starters to just 15 points. Anthony Grundy scored nine, but Damien Wilkens, Damon Thornton and Kenny Inge all scored just two points apiece. Gainey was shut out. Only the three-point shooting of Archie Miller kept the Pack in the game. He was 5-9 on three-point goals.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half. The Tigers jumped out to an 8-0 lead to open the game in the first three minutes. Clemson held the Pack to five points in the first 12 and a half minutes, as NC State made just two of its first 15 shots. Clemson did not take advantage as Clemson went 8:34 without scoring at one point. Clemson held a 23-17 lead at halftime.

Clemson brought the lead to 34-21 at 13:31 left on a layup by Adam Allenspach. But, Miller started hitting three-point goals and brought the Pack back to 42-38 with 7:36 left on the fourth three of the half by Miller. But, that was the last field goal he would make. Clemson then went on a 17-4 run to end the game. Solomon scored seven points down the stretch.

Clemson won the rebounding battle 40-36 and had 15 assists and 15 turnovers. It was the first time in eight games that Clemson had at least the same amount of assists as turnovers. NC State had a 5/19 assist/turnover ratio. The Tigers were 14-27 from the field in the second half.

Clemson Faces Another Wilkins

One of the top freshmen in the ACC this year has been NC State’s Damien Wilkins. It will be the second time a Wilkins has faced the Tigers. Damien’s father, Gerald Wilkins, longtime NBA player who started this year with the Orlando Magic, played against Clemson with distinction in 1985.

Gerald Wilkins was the star player for UT Chattanooga that year and Clemson traveled to Tennessee to face his team in the first round of the NIT. Wilkins responded with a game high 26 points on 12-18 shooting to lead the Mocs to a 67-65 victory. He also had five rebounds and two blocks for his 38 minutes of play. Clemson was led by Vincent Hamilton and sophomore forward Horace Grant, who had 16 points apiece. Grant is still playing in the NBA for the Seattle Supersonics. The game was the final contest of the 1984-85 season for the Tigers, the first year of the Cliff Ellis era.

Damien scored two points, but had seven rebounds in 33 minutes in the first contest with Clemson htis year.

Maryland 76, Clemson 62

Lonny Baxter won a personal scoring battle with Clemson center Adam Allenspach, leading Maryland to a 76-63 victory at Clemson on Feb. 22. It was just the third win in 12 years at Clemson for the Terps, who won their 20th game of the season with the victory. Clemson fell to 9-17 overall, 3-10 in the ACC.

Baxter scored 25 points, 11 more than any other center has scored against Clemson this year. He made 9-12 free throws, had nine rebounds and six blocked shots. Steven Blake was outstanding for the Terps with 14 points, six assists and just two turnovers. He made a career best 4-5 three-point shots.

Clemson’s defense held Maryland’s top two scorers, Terence Morris and Juan Dixon, to just 15 combined points. That included a season low four points by Morris, the preseason ACC Player of the Year. Maryland made 50 percent of its field goal attempts, 53 percent of its three-point shots and 76 percent from the line. Maryland was just the third team this year to make at least 50 percent of its shots against the Tigers.

Allenspach had 20 points and 10 rebounds, the first 20-10 game of his 91-game Clemson career. He had a career high six offensive rebounds. “I’m very impressed with Allenspach,” said Maryland Coach Gary Williams. “He has improved every year and is now a force to contain.”

Will Solomon added 12 points, but shot just 5-15 from the field. Allenspach and Solomon were the only double figure scorers for Clemson. The Tigers had 10 players participate and all 10 scored. But, the Tigers made just 3-18 three-point shots compared to the 9-17 outside shooting by the Terps.

Clemson had just five turnovers offensively, tied for the second lowest total in school history. And, they did it against a Maryland team that had averaged 19 forced turnovers per game. Starting guard Will Solomon and Edward Scott had just two turnover between them against Maryland’s fullcourt pressure. Clemson also won the battle of the boards 39-36 and allowed just five offensive rebounds.

Maryland jumped out to a 22-8 lead six and a half minutes into the game. Clemson won the last 33 and a half minutes by a point.

Tigers Commit Only Five Turnovers vs. Maryland

Clemson committed just five turnovers in the loss to Maryland on Feb. 22. That tied for the second fewest turnovers in a game in Clemson history. The record is three against North Carolina in the 1995 ACC Tournament. Clemson has had two other games with just five turnovers.

What is especially noteworthy is that Clemson had that low total against Maryland, a team that forces an average of 19 turnovers per game, best in the ACC. Clemson went into the game last in the ACC in turnover margin, committing 4.6 more than it causes this season. But, Clemson had a +5 turnover margin in the game as the Terps committed 10.

Clemson has improved its turnover total drastically of late and the return of point guard Edward Scott has a lot to do with that. Over the last three home games, Clemson has committed just 18 turnovers, an average of just six per game. Three of the top 20 low turnover games in Clemson history have taken place over the last six games.

Allenspach Chasing Free Throw Record

Clemson starting center Adam Allenspach has made 73 of 98 free throws this year, including 17 of his last 19. That .745 free throw percentage would be the third best in Clemson history by a center if the season ended today. The .778 mark by Ed Brinkley in 1958-59 is the all-time Clemson standard for a Tiger center (minimum of 30 attempts). Allenspach’s mark is the best since Brinkley’s 77.8.

Allenspach has made 140-196 for his career .714, also one of the best figures in Clemson history for a center. Allenspach is shooting .765 in league play this year, contributing to Clemson’s near 70 percent figure as a team in league play.

Allenspach Has Fifth Double-Doible

Clemson center Adam Allenspach has had consecutive double doubles in losses to Virginia and Maryland. This is the first time in his career that the 7-1 center has had consecutive double-doubles. He had 20 points and 10 rebounds against Maryland and scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds in Clemson’s loss to Virginia on Feb. 15. The performance against Maryland was Allenspach’s sixth double-double of the season, more than any other Tiger. It was his first double-double since he suffered a back injury at Duke on January 29.

He scored 24 points in Clemson’s loss to Appalachian State on January 19. That was his career high scoring effort and it was in fact the highest scoring game for a Clemson center since Sharone Wright scored 25 points at Wake Forest on Feb. 22, 1994. Allenspach connected on 7-11 field goals and 10-12 free throws.

His free throw shooting stats are also a career high. He made his last nine free throws of the Appalachian State game and is now shooting 74.5 percent from the line for the year. Allenspach had five straight double figure scoring games and was averaging 16 points a contest prior to the Duke game in Durham when he went down with a bulging disk in his back. He had his first double figure scoring game in the win over Florida State since he hurt his back at Duke. Allenspach scored 12 points in the win over the Seminoles and now has 47 points and 23 rebounds over his last three games.

Solomon Chasing Sophomore Scoring Marks

Will Solomon needs just nine points to set the Clemson record for points scored in a season by a sophomore. Solomon has 544 this season, tied for second with Vince Yockel, who had 544 in 1955-56. The Clemson record in that category is 552 by Butch Zatezalo in 1967-68.

Solomon is chasing two overall single season Clemson records. He has averaged 3.04 three-point goals per game this year, ahead of the Clemson record of 2.90 per game by Chris Whitney in 1992-93. Solomon has 544 points this season, already tied for 10th best in Clemson history for a single season. He has at least four games left and would have to average 27 points a game over those contests to break the season mark of 651 held by Bill Yarborough in 1954-55 and Horace Grant in 1986-87.

Solomon’s average of 20.9 would be in a tie for sixth best in Clemson history if the season ended today. The record is 28.3 by Bill Yarborough in 1954-55. Butch Zatezalo (3 seasons), Vince Yockel and Horace Grant are the other Tigers to average at least 20 points a game over the course of a season.

Clemson Single Season Scoring Leaders

Rk Name Year Pts
1. Bill Yarborough 1954-55 651
Horace Grant 1986-87 651
3. Butch Zatezalo 1968-69 645
4. Terrell McIntyre 1998-99 627
5. Elden Campbell 1989-90 575
6. Butch Zatezalo 1969-70 564
7. Billy Williams 1979-80 562
8. Horace Grant 1985-86 556
9. Butch Zatezalo 1967-68 552
10. Will Solomon 1999-00 544
Vince Yockel 1955-56 544

Clemson Single Season Points/Game Leaders

Rk Name Year PPG
1. Bill Yarborough 1954-55 28.3
2. Butch Zatezalo 1968-69 25.8
3. Butch Zatezalo 1967-68 23.0
4. Butch Zatezalo 1969-70 21.7
5. Horace Grant 1986-87 21.0
6. Vince Yockel 1955-56 20.9
Will Solomon 1999-00 20.9
8. Vince Yockel 1956-57 19.8
9. Gary Helms 1965-66 19.2
10. Choppy Patterson 1960-61 19.0

Clemson Single Season Three-Point Goals

Rk Name Year 3pt
1. Terrell McIntyre 1998-99 99
2. Chris Whitney 1992-93 87
3. Chris Whitney 1991-92 80
4. Will Solomon 1999-00 79
5. Michael Tait 1986-87 70

Clemson Single Season 3Pt Goal/Game Leaders

Rk Name Year 3/G
1. Will Solomon 1999-00 3.03
2. Chris Whitney 1992-93 2.90
3. Chris Whitney 1991-92 2.86
4. Terrell McIntyre 1998-99 2.83
5. Bruce Martin 1994-95 2.29

Clemson With More Field Goals

Despite a 9-17 record overall and 3-10 mark in ACC play, Clemson has scored more field goals than the opposition in overall games and the same total in ACC games this year. Clemson has shot better than the opposition (40.2 to 40 ) overall.

In the 13 league games Clemson and the opposition both have 296 field goals. The big difference comes at the foul line. Clemson’s ACC opponents have made 227 free throws in the 13 games, the same number Clemson has attempted.

There is also a big difference in three-point goals for the season. Opponents have made 47 more three-point goals overall for the season than Clemson and that represents 141 more points. Clemson has been outscored by 109 points for the season.

Assist/Turnover Ratio Among the Best vs. FSU

Clemson had its best ball handling game of the year in the win over Florida State. Clemson had 24 assists and just seven turnovers in the 26-point victory. That was the high assist mark of the season for a single game by Clemson and the second lowest turnover total. Those two extremes led to a 3.43 assist/turnover ratio, the third best single game ACC mark in Clemson history.

The only two games better in league play both took place against NC State. In 1992-93 season, Clemson had 25 assists and just five turnovers for a 5.0 figure in an ACC Tournament victory over NC State. In 1983-84 in a game at Clemson, the Tigers had 23 assist and just six turnovers (3.83) in a win over the Pack.

Overall, Clemson’s 3.43 assist/turnover ratio against Florida State was the 10th best in school history, best since the 1997-98 season when Clemson had 29 assists and just eight turnovers in a win over Western Carolina. Clemson had a 15/5 ratio in the loss to Maryland.

Jurkunas Key to Clemson ACC Wins

Andrius Jurkunas had an outstanding performance in Clemson’s win over Florida State on Feb. 12. He had 16 points, including 5-7 on three-point goals. He also had six assists and no turnovers and held Ron Hale to 1-12 shooting from the field.

The play of Jurkunas has been an indicator of Clemson’s play in ACC games this year. In the three conference wins, Jurkunas has averaged 16 points, shot 17-29 from the field, 11-19 on three-point shots and had a 10/4 assist/turnover ratio.

Jurkunas vs. the ACC
Category Losses Wins
Points/game 6.8 16.0
FG Shooting 22-80 17-29
FG% .275 .586
3Pt Shooting 8-40 11-19
3pt FG% .200 .579
Ass/Turn Ratio 25/29 10/4

Henderson Coming on Strong

Ray Henderson has not played more than 18 minutes in any of the last five games, yet he has led Clemson in rebounding three of those contests. The freshman who has suffered from various injuries this year, has scored 31 points and had 34 rebounds over the last six games.

Henderson had eight rebounds, his second highest total of the season, in the win over Florida State. He did that in just 18 minutes and added seven points. Over his last five games, Henderson has 32 rebounds in his last 75 minutes of play.

On a per minute basis, Ray Henderson has been Clemson’s most productive rebounder this year. He has averaged a rebound every 3.13 minutes this year, best on the Clemson team. He had five rebounds in just six minutes against North Carolina on Feb. 6, then had six rebounds in 15 minutes at Wake Forest. The burly freshman has been hampered by injury all year and thus his stamina is not at a high rate.

The native of Charlotte, NC, had a productive 22 minutes of play at North Carolina in January and it was the first game in which he opened the eyes of the ACC media. Henderson had a season best and team high nine rebounds in those 22 minutes, including four off the offensive boards. He also made 3-5 shots from the field and did not have a turnover in 22 minutes. He also had an effect on the production of Brendan Haywood. The 7-1 North Carolina center had just 10 points and got just four field goal attempts in the game.

He did play 16 minutes in the win over Georgia Tech and scored six points in 3-4 shooting. He also played strong defense against Alvin Jones of Georgia Tech.

Free Throw Shooting Improved

Clemson has shot at least 70 percent from the foul line in nine of its last 13 games. That includes three consecutive games of 80 percent or better in a recent streak. Larry Shyatt Tigers are now shooting 67.5 percent from the line for the year, 70 percent in conference play. Clemson has not shot over 70 percent for the course of a season since 1986-87 when Clemson’s winningest team in history (25-6 with ACC Player of the Year Horace Grant) shot 71.6 percent. The all-time best is 73.4 by the 1981-82 team. Clemson has never led the ACC in free throw shooting.

Clemson’s current free throw percentage of .675 would be the third best by a Tiger squad in the last 13 years, or the length of time since Clemson had a 70 percent season. Clemson made 68 percent from the line in 1996-97 and 69.6 in 1994-95.

What Clemson has Done Well

Rebounding–Tigers are +5.5 for the season, first in the ACC and third best in Clemson history. Tigers have been out-rebounded in just five games all year and have had a double digit rebound margin against 10 opponents.

Defense–Clemson has allowed opponents to make just 40 percent of their shots. Only three teams, Duke, Maryland and North Carolina, have shot over 48 percent against Clemson this year.

Free Throw Shooting–Clemson has made 67.5 percent of its free throws this year, up from 62.5 last year. Clemson has made 70 percent in ACC games. Clemson has made at least 70 percent of its free throws in nine of the last 13 games.

Where Clemson has Struggled

Three-Point Shooting–Clemson has made just 31.2 percent from beyond the arc. Opponents have made more three-point goals than Clemson in 14 of the last 17 games and 20 of 26 games this year.

Assist/turnover ratio–Clemson has had more turnovers than assists in 17 of 26 games. Clemson has committed 113 more turnovers than the opposition and has 74 more turnovers than assists.

Forcing Turnovers–Opponents have had more assists than turnovers in 14 of the last 16 games. A nine-game streak was snapped in the win over NC State. Clemson has just 123 steals compared to 194 by the opposition.

Free Throw Attempts–In ACC play the opposition has attempted 105 more free throws than Clemson in the 13 games.

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