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Duke basketball will face Clemson in the semifinals of the 2026 ACC Tournament on Friday, March 13.
The top-seeded Blue Devils (30-2) and No. 5 seeded Tigers (24-9) will tip off at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Duke held on to beat Florida State 80-79 in the quarterfinals on Thursday night behind a career-high 32 points from Isaiah Evans while Clemson held on to beat North Carolina 80-79. Both games came down to the final possessions.
Here are some things to know and a score prediction for Duke basketball vs. Clemson:
FROM FSU WIN: How Duke basketball adjusted to being shorthanded vs FSU in ACC tournament
FROM FSU WIN: How Duke basketball's second-half surge pushed it past Florida State
In the team's first meeting, it was a battle between the top-two defensive teams in the ACC. Duke held Clemson to a season-low 54 points, 0.87 points per possession, on 35.1% shooting. It was the Tigers' lowest scoring output since Jan. 31, 2023 at Boston College. Duke shot 43% with 1.08 points per possession.
Heading into Friday, Duke's defense is holding opponents to 62.5 points per game and Clemson 66.3. The Blue Devils are tabbed as KenPom's most efficient defense. Clemson's defense, meanwhile, ranks 20th in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency.
As with many of its contests this season, the Blue Devils boast an advantage on interior.
Heading into Friday's meeting, Duke's offense ranks No. 5 in 2-point percentage and 11th in offensive rebounding per KenPom. Clemson's offense, meanwhile, is 84th in 2-point percentage and 253rd in offensive rebounding. The Tigers’ defense ranks 60th against 2-point percentage but is 14th in offensive rebounding percentage.
Duke outrebounded Florida State 46-25, with a 22-6 mark on the offensive glass resulting in 24 second chance points. UNC outrebounded Clemson 38-29, with a 11-3 mark on the offensive glass, with the Tar Heels scoring 16 second chance points against the Tigers.
Both teams with enter Friday's semifinal meeting without key pieces.
Clemson will be without Carter Welling, who tore his ACL on March 12. Welling was just one of two double-figure scorers for Clemson in its Feb. 14 contest against Duke, alongside RJ Godfrey (10). Welling is also Duke's second-leading scorer with 10.2 points while Godfrey leads the team with 11.7 points per game.
Duke will again be without starting center Patrick Ngongba II (foot soreness) and starting point guard Caleb Foster (broken foot). Ngongba II should return for the NCAA Tournament while Foster, who had surgery for his broken foot on March 8 and has began rehab, could possibly return for Duke if it makes a deep run in March Madness.
Maliq Brown and Cayden Boozer started in their places. Brown finished with a team-high 12 rebounds, eight on the offensive glass, and four points. Boozer scored nine points with three rebounds.
Duke 70, Clemson 60: Expect another defensive battle, just this time from the Spectrum Center instead of Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke held Clemson to its lowest scoring output in three years, and the Tigers will definitely be seeking revenge, but the Blue Devils have been playing their best basketball as of late.
Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke basketball vs Clemson prediction, what to know for ACC Tournament
Continue reading...
The top-seeded Blue Devils (30-2) and No. 5 seeded Tigers (24-9) will tip off at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Duke held on to beat Florida State 80-79 in the quarterfinals on Thursday night behind a career-high 32 points from Isaiah Evans while Clemson held on to beat North Carolina 80-79. Both games came down to the final possessions.
Here are some things to know and a score prediction for Duke basketball vs. Clemson:
FROM FSU WIN: How Duke basketball adjusted to being shorthanded vs FSU in ACC tournament
FROM FSU WIN: How Duke basketball's second-half surge pushed it past Florida State
Expect another defensive battle
In the team's first meeting, it was a battle between the top-two defensive teams in the ACC. Duke held Clemson to a season-low 54 points, 0.87 points per possession, on 35.1% shooting. It was the Tigers' lowest scoring output since Jan. 31, 2023 at Boston College. Duke shot 43% with 1.08 points per possession.
Heading into Friday, Duke's defense is holding opponents to 62.5 points per game and Clemson 66.3. The Blue Devils are tabbed as KenPom's most efficient defense. Clemson's defense, meanwhile, ranks 20th in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency.
Duke has the advantage on the interior
As with many of its contests this season, the Blue Devils boast an advantage on interior.
Heading into Friday's meeting, Duke's offense ranks No. 5 in 2-point percentage and 11th in offensive rebounding per KenPom. Clemson's offense, meanwhile, is 84th in 2-point percentage and 253rd in offensive rebounding. The Tigers’ defense ranks 60th against 2-point percentage but is 14th in offensive rebounding percentage.
Duke outrebounded Florida State 46-25, with a 22-6 mark on the offensive glass resulting in 24 second chance points. UNC outrebounded Clemson 38-29, with a 11-3 mark on the offensive glass, with the Tar Heels scoring 16 second chance points against the Tigers.
Both teams without starters
Both teams with enter Friday's semifinal meeting without key pieces.
Clemson will be without Carter Welling, who tore his ACL on March 12. Welling was just one of two double-figure scorers for Clemson in its Feb. 14 contest against Duke, alongside RJ Godfrey (10). Welling is also Duke's second-leading scorer with 10.2 points while Godfrey leads the team with 11.7 points per game.
Duke will again be without starting center Patrick Ngongba II (foot soreness) and starting point guard Caleb Foster (broken foot). Ngongba II should return for the NCAA Tournament while Foster, who had surgery for his broken foot on March 8 and has began rehab, could possibly return for Duke if it makes a deep run in March Madness.
Maliq Brown and Cayden Boozer started in their places. Brown finished with a team-high 12 rebounds, eight on the offensive glass, and four points. Boozer scored nine points with three rebounds.
Duke vs Clemson prediction
Duke 70, Clemson 60: Expect another defensive battle, just this time from the Spectrum Center instead of Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke held Clemson to its lowest scoring output in three years, and the Tigers will definitely be seeking revenge, but the Blue Devils have been playing their best basketball as of late.
Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke basketball vs Clemson prediction, what to know for ACC Tournament
Continue reading...
