Men’s Basketball Notes Vs. Georgia Tech

Jan. 26, 2004

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Clemson’s strength of schedule is ranked 5th by RPI and sixthby Sagarin heading into this week’s play. Two Clemson starters havehad their career high scoring efforts against Georgia Tech. CheyChristie scored 25 points on 9-15 shooting in Clemson’s 69- 67 winat Clemson last year. Olu Babalola had a career high 17 points on7-9 shooting at Georgia Tech last year. When Clemson won at GeorgiaTech in 2002, current senior Chris Hobbs scored 25 points to leadClemson to the victory. Like Christie last year, Hobbs made 9-15shots from the field. It is one of just two 25-point scoring gamesfor Hobbs in his 105 game Clemson career. Hobbs’s career high is 28against Virginia is freshman season. Hobbs went ahead of formerteammate Ray Henderson on the Clemson career rebound list againstMaryland. He now has 634 for his career, 13th on the all-time list.Next at #12 is Tommy Mahaffey, who had 649 between 1959-62. Clemsonhas not allowed an opponent to shoot 50 percent from the fieldagainst it this year. Only three teams have shot better than 47percent against the Tigers in 2003-04. The home team has won 27 ofthe last 33 games in the Clemson vs. Georgia Tech series. The twoteams have split the regular season series 14 of the last 16seasons. Shawan Robinson made his first career start in theMaryland game last Sunday. He responded with 15 points on 6-10shooting from the field. The Georgia Tech game will be the first offour straight games against top 25 teams for Oliver Purnell’s team.This will be just the fifth time in Clemson history the Tigers haveplayed four straight games against ranked opponents. Clemson centerSharrod Ford has made 36 of his last 46 free throws, a .782 figure.He is a .530 free throw shooter for his career. Reserve forwardAkin Akingbala has made 35-54 shots from the field this year, a.648 figure. He stands at .651 for his career on 41-63 shots.Clemson’s balanced attack has six players averaging between 8.0 and11.1 points per game this season. Clemson averages 19.7 turnoversper game, last in the ACC. Clemson has committed more turnoversthan it has forced in 14 of its 17 games this year. Clemson has hadat least 15 turnovers in13 straight games and in 16 of the 17contest this year. Saturday’s noon game with North Carolina atLittlejohn Coliseum is a sellout. Clemson also sold out the Dukegame earlier this year.