Clemson rolling, Miami slumping ahead of ACC opener

Field Level Media|published: Fri 6th December, 19:52 2024

Dec 3, 2024; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Matthew Cleveland (0) looks on against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

With a win over host Miami on Saturday in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams, Clemson will likely vault into the AP Top 25 poll.

Clemson (8-1) has won five straight, including a 70-66 home victory over No. 4 Kentucky on Tuesday.

"We're under the shadow of (Clemson) football for sure, but I don't know why you wouldn't want to come play basketball here," Tigers coach Brad Brownell said. "(We have a) program on the rise, good facilities ... and we have great kids who care and play the right way."

Meanwhile, Miami (3-5) has lost five straight. The Hurricanes hit rock bottom last Saturday, when they lost at home to a one-win Charleston Southern team.

But Miami played much better in its most recent game, a 76-73 home loss to Arkansas on Tuesday.

Matthew Cleveland produced 15 points and 10 rebounds against Arkansas, breaking out of an early-season slump. He had scored a total of four points over the previous two games.

Nijel Pack, who scored a game-high 22 points against the Razorbacks, said Cleveland is Miami's best athlete.

"He played like a grown man," Pack said, "all over the rim."

Pack leads Miami in scoring (16.1) and assists (4.9). Cleveland is averaging 9.4 points, below the standard he set the previous two seasons (13.8 and 13.7, respectively).

Miami is a capable offensive team with Pack and Jalen Blackmon (11.6 ppg) both shooting better than 41 percent on 3-pointers.

But Miami's weaknesses are defense and rebounding, and those are the Tigers' strengths.

In fact, Clemson's Ian Schieffelin entered Friday second in the nation with 12.6 rebounds per game. He had a career-high 20 against Kentucky.

"We are still a work in progress on offense," Brownell said. "We're having to win in other ways."

Chase Hunter leads Clemson in scoring (15.7) and shoots 42.6 percent on 3-point attempts.

Schieffelin ranks second on the team in scoring (12.3), shooting 41.4 percent from the floor and 19.2 percent on 3-pointers.

He will match up against Miami center Lynn Kidd, who is averaging 10.6 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Another key player to watch is Jaeden Zackery, who leads Clemson in steals (2.1). A Boston College transfer, Zackery is Clemson's unofficial leader -- along with Schieffelin -- in terms of effort.

--Field Level Media