Syracuse Orange v. Clemson Tigers & Preview (3/5/24)
Syracuse (20-10, 11-8 ACC) wraps up the regular season with a final ACC road test against Clemson, seeking both revenge for a Dome defeat against the Tigers on February 10, and a fifth consecutive win heading into the postseason.
Opponent: Clemson Tigers (20-9, 10-8 ACC)
Date & Time: Tuesday, Mar. 5, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, SC
TV: ESPN2
PREDICTION
Poetically, it comes down to the final game of coach Adrian Autry's rookie season (do we hear Coach of the Year consideration from the media covering the league?), in terms of a potential top-four seed and coveted double bye in next week's ACC Tournament. The Orange are simply trying to compile as many wins as possible over the next two weeks to impress the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee.
What a season it has already turned out to be. Thirty games filled with the highs and lows of a 10-3 start heading into the new year after the win over Pittsburgh December 30, followed by a 10-7 mark in the ACC heading into the Clemson matchup. The bulk of ACC play came after losing starting center Naheem McLeod in mid-January to a season-ending foot injury, and the 6-2 spurt the last eight games has followed the removal of one-time starter and bench contributor Benny Williams from the squad on February 6.
Now Autry has Syracuse playing its best team basketball at exactly the right time with a four game winning streak, and next up is to try and record an impressive road win over the 25th NET ranked Tigers.
A winning result along with how a few other games turn out before the regular season concludes Saturday without the 'Cuse playing that day, would result in SU gaining the 4th seed and off until the afternoon of the Thursday quarterfinal round (March 14) of the ACC Tournament in Washington, D.C. That's a long nine days off between games.
As we've seen all season, especially with the middle eight or so teams in the ACC standings, inconsistency from one game to the next has been rampant, and in the case of Clemson, the Tigers followed up a hard fought 69-62 home win over Pitt, with a poor shooting performance four days later in their loss at surging Notre Dame by the same score this past Saturday, snapping a three game winning streak.
Former Orange hero-turned-opponent Joe Girard struggled shooting against the Irish (3-12 / 2-8 3P) finishing with 11 points, his third lowest output of the season, but figures to bounce back to form in his final appearance at Littlejohn Coliseum in his brief one year Clemson career against his past SU teammates. In the Tigers 77-68 victory in the Dome February 10, Girard (18 points) and big man PJ Hall (15 points/10 rebounds) helped key a 17-8 run to close out the game.
When a team like Syracuse is down to basically an eight player rotation, it's important to see six of those eight (minus an ill Peter Carey who is expected to return against Clemson) with double figure scoring totals as was the case in Saturday's 82-76 win over Louisville, balanced scoring causing problems for opposing defenses. Meanwhile, the SU defense has clamped down when its needed to, active hands causing steals and subsequent open court opportunities for quick points.
The spotlight Tuesday will fall on guards Girard and SU's stellar Judah Mintz down the stretch in this exciting close to the regular season for the Orange. Mintz, averaging over 19 ppg the last month, will singlehandedly put the Orange up two by scoring three straight baskets in the final 1:30, but Girard's three pointer at the buzzer gives Clemson an 80-79 win over crestfallen Syracuse.
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