Clemson to Face Michigan Thursday Night in First Round of 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

March 17, 2009

Game Setup Event: 2009 NCAA Tournament Site: The Sprint Center (18,381) Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009 City: Kansas City, MO Time: 7:10 PM Eastern time TV: CBS (Tim Brando, Mike Gminski) Radio: Clemson Tiger Radio Network (Pete Yanity, Tim Bourret) Rankings: Clemson, #21 USA Today, 24 AP RPI: Clemson 28, Michigan 43

Series History Overall: Michigan leads 2-0 at Michigan: 0-0 at Clemson: 0-0 at Neutral: Michigan leads 2-0 Previous: Michigan 93, Clemson 88 – 12-28-87 at Tampa, FL; Michigan 59, Clemson 56 – 11-23-98 at Maui, Hawaii CU vs Big Ten: 12-15 (5-1 under Purnell) CU in NCAAs: 8-8 (0-1 under Purnell)

Quick Facts Clemson will face Michigan in the first round of the NCAAAA Tournament. Clemson is 0-2 against Michigan lifetime, but has won five straight against Big Ten teams, including a 76-74 win at Illinois back on December 2, 2008

Clemson’s last NCAA Tournament win took place on March 16, 1997, a 65-59 win over Tulsa in Kansas City, MO. Clemson’s first round game is in Kansas City, but in a different arena. The 1997 win was at Kemper Arena.

In 1997, Clemson entered the NCAA tournament with four losses in its previous five games, including a first round loss in the ACC Tournament. Clemson went on to the Sweet 16 by winning two games in Kansas City. This year Clemson enters the ACC Tournament coming off four losses in its last five games including a first round loss in the ACC Tournament.

Clemson averages 79.0 points per game, among the top 15 figures in the nation. Michigan has not allowed an opponent more than 78 points this year.

Clemson has an 8-8 record in NCAA Tournament games in its previous eight appearances. Clemson has reached the Sweet 16 three of its previous eight appearances.

Clemson has six active players who played in last year’s NCAA Tournament game against Villanova. K.C. Rivers had 15 points to lead Clemson in scoring in that game, while Demontez Stitt added 14, including 4-4 three-point goals.

A victory over Michigan would give Clemson 11 wins away from home, tying a school record. The 1996-97 team won 11.

Trevor Booker leads the ACC in field goal percentage and rebounding. He is attempting to become the first ACC player to do that in the same year since Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan in 1996-97. He is attempting to be the first underclassman to do it since Clemson’s Dale Davis in 1989-90.

Clemson is two wins short of its season record of 25 set in 2006-07 and 1986-87.

Clemson finished 24th in the final AP poll, the second straight year Clemson has been ranked, a first in school history.

Clemson is 14-0 in non-conference games, including road wins over NCAAAA Tournament teams Temple and Illinois,

Clemson faced Michigan head Coach John Beilein in the NIT finals when he was the head coach at West Virginia in 2007. West Virginia won that game in Madison Square Garden, 78-73.

Clemson leads the ACC in 3-point goals per game (8.1) and 3-point % (.379).