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Tigers Look For Payback Against Hurricanes on Saturday

Tigers Look For Payback Against Hurricanes on Saturday

Feb. 11, 2005

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This will be the second meeting between Clemson and Miami (FL)in a 17-day period. The last time Clemson played a team twice inthat quick a period of time was in 2001-02 when Clemson playedFlorida State on Feb. 23 in the regular season, then again in thefirst round of the ACC Tournament. Clemson freshman Cliff Hammondsis averaging exactly 10 points per game so far this season.Hammonds is trying to become just the eighth first-year freshman inClemson history to average double digits over the course of aseason, the first since Terrell McIntyre in 1995-96. Sharrod Fordwas held to three points and no rebounds against Georgia Tech, buthad a string of three straight double-doubles prior to that. One ofthose games was a 20-point, 15-rebound performance at Miami (FL).Even though Ford had just three points and no rebounds againstGeorgia Tech, the 6-9 center is still second in the ACC inoffensive rebounds, fourth in blocked shots, fifth in field goalpercentage and fifth in rebounding. Vernon Hamilton needs twosteals to become the first player in Clemson history to have atleast 50 steals as a freshman and as a sophomore. Hamilton has justseven turnovers in his last five games. Clemson and Miami have meton the basketball court seven times previously. Six of the seven,including the first game this year (69-65, Miami), have beendecided by five points or less or in overtime. Clemson and Miamihave played two overtime games in history and Clemson has won bothtimes. The combined score of the two overtimes is 23-0 in Clemson’sfavor. Clemson has two players on its roster from the state ofFlorida, junior center Steve Allen (Fort Lauderdale) and sophomoreguard Jimmy Hudson (Eustis). Clemson must improve its defense inthe second half. In the 10 ACC games so far this year, theopposition has shot 53.7 percent from the field and outscoredClemson by 9.4 points per game. The ACC opposition has failed toimprove its field goal percentage in the second half just once inthe first 10 league contests. Akin Akingbala has made 12 of hislast 16 shots from the field. He scored 10 points in 22 minutes offthe bench the last time Clemson met Miami. Clemson must improve itsfree throw shooting. The Tigers are now shooting .597 from the linefor the year, worst in the ACC and have gone nine straight gameswithout making at last .700 of its free throws. James Mays made hisfirst career three-point goal on his first attempt against GeorgiaTech. He is just the fourth Tiger 6-9 or taller to make a 3-ptgoal.

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