Tigers Face Virginia Tech on Senior Night

Feb. 28, 2005

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Clemson can become postseason eligible with a victory overVirginia Tech on Tuesday night. Clemson has 14 wins and a 15thwould guarantee the Tigers a winning regular season for the firsttime since 2002-03. Clemson has not been to postseason play sincethe 1999 NIT when Clemson reached the finals in Madison SquareGarden. Clemson has lost three straight games to Virginia Tech,including a 59-57 loss in Virginia on Jan.15. Clemson had a 2-0week in ACC play last week. Clemson will be trying to win a thirdstraight conference game for the first time since the 2002-03season when the Tigers defeated North Carolina, Virginia andFlorida State between Feb. 15-22. Clemson completed the month ofFebruary with a 4-3 record, just the school’s second winning recordin February since 1990. This will be Senior Night for Clemson’sSharrod Ford and Olu Babalola. Clemson is 25-8 over the last 33years on Senior Night, including a 14-8 record against ACC teams.Clemson is 64-29 all-time on Senior Night, a .688 winningpercentage. Last week Ford had 45 points, 24 rebounds, shot 17-23from the field, had 11 blocks and four steals in victories overMaryland and Florida State. Ford has played 113 consecutive gamesfor the Tigers and has 81 starts. Babalola had 11 points, fiverebounds and just one turnover in 29 minutes in the win atMaryland. Babalola has played 103 games for Clemson, including 62as a starter. While this is Senior Night, Clemson’s freshmen havehad a big impact on Clemson’s recent run that includes victories inthree of the last four games. In the two wins last week thefreshman class collectively scored 68 points, had 25 rebounds, 13assists, shot 23-46 from the field (.500) and 9-19 on three-pointshots (.473). Clemson will have a quick turnaround for its gamewith Virginia Tech. Clemson has not won two ACC games in athree-day period since Feb. 10-12 of 1990 when Clemson beatVirginia and NC State in consecutive home games. Clemson last wonan ACC game with just one day off in between games in 1992-93 whenit beat Maryland at Clemson. Clemson has lost 13 ACC games in a rowwhen it has just one day to prepare. Clemson has scored at least 80points in consecutive ACC games for the first time since the1997-98 season. The 180 points scored the last two games are themost in consecutive ACC games since Clemson scored 188 againstVirginia and Wake Forest in 2001-02. Clemson (56) and Virginia Tech(32) have the most combined starts by freshmen in the ACC thisyear.