The No. 18-ranked Clemson Tigers (21-5, 13-2 ACC) travel to Dallas, Texas for their toughest remaining game of the regular season against the SMU Mustangs (20-6, 11-4 ACC) on Saturday afternoon. ACC Network will televise the game, which will tip off at 4:00 p.m.
One week ago, Clemson made easy work of the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee, 72-46.
Junior guard Dillon Hunter was the star of the show, putting up 17 points while shooting 3-for-6 from downtown, and adding four assists. Senior Ian Schieffelin notched his 11th double-double of the season, compiling 14 points and 12 rebounds in the win.
The Seminoles struggled on offense all afternoon, posting just 19 points in the first half. Clemson’s defense clamped down on the three-point line, as FSU shot just 2-for-15 from deep. Guard Jaeden Zackery, though he scored just six points himself, served as a critical piece in forcing Florida State’s Jamir Watkins into tough looks at the basket.
In this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll, Clemson rose five spots following the wins over Florida State and North Carolina. With a win in Dallas, CU could find itself in the top 15 for the first time since the December 11 poll a season ago.
The Tigers maintain their No. 2 position in the ACC standings, behind No. 3 Duke (15-1), and tied with No. 25 Louisville (13-2). The Blue Devils travel to Madison Square Garden for a marquee non-conference game on Saturday night against Illinois, while the Cardinals host Florida State in conference play.
SMU Mustangs (20-6, 11-4 ACC)
Head coach: Andy Enfield (1st season here, 14th overall, 20-6 at SMU, 11-4 ACC)
2013 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 (with Florida Gulf Coast)
2021 NCAA Tournament Elite 8 (with USC)
Advanced rankings*:
38 in Kenpom (Clemson is 21)
38 in NET (Clemson is 25)
40 in BPI (Clemson is 20)
- – out of all 364 Division I teams
Record by quadrant:
Quadrant 1: 0-4
Quadrant 2: 5-2
Quadrant 3: 10-0
Quadrant 4: 5-0
Notable wins: Pitt, LSU
Notable losses: Mississippi State, Louisville, North Carolina
Leading scorer: Boopie Miller (guard #2), 13.4 points
Leading rebounder: Matt Cross (forward #33), 8.2 rebounds
Assist leader: Boopie Miller (guard #2), 5.7 assists
Last time out:
Wednesday, February 19
SMU 97, Notre Dame 73 in South Bend, IN
The Mustangs jumped out to a 25-point lead at halftime, handing Notre Dame their third straight loss in the confines of the Joyce Center. Impressively, SMU’s offense scored almost 100 points while connecting on just eight three-pointers. They shot 58.6% from the field, made 21 free throws, and outrebounded the Fighting Irish 43-20. Senior guard Kario Oquendo led the team in scoring with 25 points on 8-for-10 shooting, while Matt Cross, Samet Yigitoglu, and Chuck Harris each scored in double-figures. Notre Dame guard Markus Burton, who had scored 20 or more points in nine of his last ten games entering Wednesday, was held to a meager 2 points on the night.
Outlook:
Coming off of a week of rest, I’m intrigued to see how Clemson approaches a game against a fellow NCAA Tournament contender. SMU is looking for their first Quad 1 win of the season to bolster their resume. Star guard Boopie Miller, who transferred to the Mustangs from Wake Forest, has not played in the team’s last two games due to a bruise on his left foot. He’s the engine for Andy Enfield’s team, but I struggle to see SMU taking down the Tigers if he’s out for another game.
My matchup to watch is in the backcourt. Clemson’s Chase Hunter is coming off one of his few off games this season, while SMU’s Kario Oquendo put up 25 points at Notre Dame on Wednesday. If Miller remains out and CU minimizes Oquendo’s impact, the odds tilt in the Tigers’ favor.
