Clemson and North Carolina State have something in common ahead of Saturday afternoon’s meeting at Raleigh, N.C.
Both teams are trying to get well, but that takes on different meanings.
For Clemson (17-4, 9-1 ACC), an extended break might have come at the right time. For NC State (9-11, 2-7), it’s about trying to end a five-game losing streak.
“I think our guys understand that we’re capable of anything if we continue just to stick together and grind and play good basketball,” Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said. “Obviously, losing is tough, but when you’re playing better, I think we’re playing better. We just got to get over the hump, and we will. I don’t know when it’ll happen, but we’ll get over the hump.”
The latest NC State setback came with Monday night’s 74-64 loss at No. 2 Duke, where the Wolfpack held a 13-point, first-half lead before hitting rough patches.
Clemson is in a different situation with five consecutive victories, while sitting just a game out first place. The Tigers are coming off a weeklong layoff since last Saturday’s 72-57 victory at Virginia Tech.
“There’s a long way to go, 10 more games to go,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. “I would like us to just get healthy. We have a lot of areas that we still need to improve.”
Against Virginia Tech, Clemson’s 25 points from the bench marked the team’s highest total in a conference game this season. Part of that came from Chase Hunter, who wasn’t a starter because of illness but entered in the second half and made an impact.
“The calming effect of the best player that we have,” Brownell said of Hunter’s presence.
Hunter is averaging a team-leading 17.1 points per game.
NC State will look for another boost from freshman reserve guard Trey Parker. He poured in a season-high 15 points against Duke, aided by three 3-point baskets.
Parker had 14 points in the 10 previous games combined.
“I’m getting really excited about our young guys,” Keatts said. “It’s taking them a little while to come into their own.”
The Wolfpack’s top scorers are Marcus Hill (12.8 points per game) and Jayden Taylor (12.5).
Clemson has won six of the last seven meetings with NC State, which pulled off a 78-77 road upset last February. Hunter had just 10 points in that game.
–Field Level Media
