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Most were expecting the nightcap of Friday night’s ACC Tournament semifinals to be a rubber match between rivals Duke and North Carolina, but the Clemson Tigers had something to say about that, taking down the Tar Heels, 80-79, on Thursday night to set up a rematch of the Blue Devils’ 13-point win in Cameron Indoor Stadium in February.
Jon Scheyer’s team didn’t make it to the game easy, either, surviving a last-second three-point attempt by Florida State to beat the Seminoles, 80-79, on Thursday night.
It was a two-man show for top-ranked Duke against FSU as Isaiah Evans (32 points) and Cameron Boozer (23 points) combined for 55 of the Blue Devils’ 80 points, with no other Duke player reaching double digits in the victory. The Devils might need more of that as they are missing starting guard Caleb Foster and center Patrick Ngongba, limiting the depth to just seven regular players.
Brad Brownell’s team used a complete team effort to hold off the Tar Heels’ furious rally at the end of Thursday’s game, with six players scoring at least 10 points, led by Nick Davidson’s 17 points coming off the bench.
In the first matchup, Boozer, Evans and Cayden Boozer combined for 47 points, and the Blue Devils held the Tigers to 35 percent from the field in the 67-54 victory.
Duke and Clemson are set to tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Thursday’s game showed how important Foster and Ngongba are to Scheyer’s squad, and the limited depth the Blue Devils have might catch up to them once and for all. Expect Clemson to come out and force Duke to get points from anyone but Cameron Boozer and Evans. If that works, it will be the Tigers’ night.
Clemson 71, Duke 67
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke vs Clemson game prediction, preview (ACC Tournament)
Continue reading...
Jon Scheyer’s team didn’t make it to the game easy, either, surviving a last-second three-point attempt by Florida State to beat the Seminoles, 80-79, on Thursday night.
It was a two-man show for top-ranked Duke against FSU as Isaiah Evans (32 points) and Cameron Boozer (23 points) combined for 55 of the Blue Devils’ 80 points, with no other Duke player reaching double digits in the victory. The Devils might need more of that as they are missing starting guard Caleb Foster and center Patrick Ngongba, limiting the depth to just seven regular players.
Brad Brownell’s team used a complete team effort to hold off the Tar Heels’ furious rally at the end of Thursday’s game, with six players scoring at least 10 points, led by Nick Davidson’s 17 points coming off the bench.
In the first matchup, Boozer, Evans and Cayden Boozer combined for 47 points, and the Blue Devils held the Tigers to 35 percent from the field in the 67-54 victory.
Duke and Clemson are set to tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Game Prediction
Thursday’s game showed how important Foster and Ngongba are to Scheyer’s squad, and the limited depth the Blue Devils have might catch up to them once and for all. Expect Clemson to come out and force Duke to get points from anyone but Cameron Boozer and Evans. If that works, it will be the Tigers’ night.
Clemson 71, Duke 67
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke vs Clemson game prediction, preview (ACC Tournament)
Continue reading...
