ACC Basketball Preview: Clemson @ Miami

by Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff

Miami has won six of the last eight meetings with Clemson (but previously was 0-5 against the Tigers all time) and will come into Sunday's nationally televised game needing to start the ACC campaign on the right note. Losing ACC games at home is a recipe for disaster if you want to make the NCAA Tournament and win a few games in the ACC Tournament. The league is deeper this season than last year: it is conceivable Florida State, Maryland, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest could all make the NCAAs this season after missing the dance a year ago. Additionally, North Carolina and Duke both appear more balanced and deeper (if that is possible in UNC's case) as last season.

Miami on the other hand despite being a trendy pre season pick to challenge UNC and Duke in the league has looked spotty at the best of times and downright lethargic at other points. Clemson on the other hand has been impressive shaking off the loss of James Mayes and Cliff Hammonds with increased contributions from the likes of Jerai Grant.

The Tigers free throw shooting, the teams Achilles heel a year ago has not substantially improved. But Miami, the best free throw shooting team in the ACC a year ago is among the worst this season with the very same perimeter players that were automatic a year ago (Lance Hurdle, James Dews and Brian Asbury) now frequently missing chances from the charity stripe especially late in games.

The weak play of Dwayne Collins which we discussed earlier in the week on this site feeds right into Clemson strength where Trevor Booker who dominated Anthony King a year ago inside should be able to dominate. Booker leads the ACC in blocks and is among the leaders in rebounding. Miami will need Jimmy Graham's energy to raise the intensity level inside given Collins seeming lack of interest in physical post play.

Without Cliff Hammonds however, Clemson is going to have a tough time guarding Jack McClinton. Hammonds the past two seasons was the most effective defender on McClinton in the entire ACC. Defensively, Clemson will likely employ a trap to expose Miami's increasingly careless ball handling and over reliance on McClinton to "bail out" the team in the second half.

Eddie Rios must give the Canes more than five minutes in this game spelling Lance Hurdle. Also Brian Asbury must be physical inside, and show a willingness to take the ball strong to the basket. If Asbury settles for too many perimeter jumpers, chances are Clemson will emerge victorious. Asbury also should be the defensive stopper assigned to Terrence Ogelsby the Tigers three point specialist. James Dews also must play a role defensively guarding the versatile and dangerous KC Rivers.

This is going to be an extremely tough game for the Canes. The UM students who seemingly are the only people who consistently show up to Basketball games are on winter break. This gives Clemson playing a "road" game in mid December, somewhat of a cushion. The Tigers fans don't travel as well for Basketball as other ACC schools, but the crowd should still be split fairly evenly, with a slight edge to UM. Clemson brought many fans to last years game at the Bank United Center but that matchup in late January was well attended by UM students whose energy helped spur a late comeback for the Canes.

Despite starting the season in the Top 20 and since falling out of the poll, Miami's losses have not been ugly by any means: U Conn and Ohio State are both highly rated, and Miami did beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena as well as defeating San Diego who eliminated UConn in last year's NCAAs by 35 points. However, it is Miami's play against lesser opposition including the likes of Southern Miss, Stetson, FIU and Robert Morris that should have Canes fans worried about this game.

Miami's players save Jack McClinton, Jimmy Graham and Lance Hurdle seem to have an attitude this season that they'll simply show up for big games and ignore the rest. That philosophy is a recipe for disaster in conference play. Clemson has become under Oliver Purnell almost unbeatable in December and I wouldn't expect that to change tomorrow night.