The Clemson Tigers will have to face two different No.1 ranked teams in the coming week with the football team battling Alabama for the National Title and the basketball team taking on the Duke Blue Devils on the hardwood. The first matchup of those two takes place on the basketball court and is the focus here.
The Tigers come into play having won four straight games, but Clemson has struggled throughout the young season against its more difficult opponents, seemingly regardless of venue. On the other hand, the Blue Devils have already rolled over a number of ranked teams with Gonzaga representing the team’s lone blemish.
On Saturday, Duke hosts Clemson at the Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham looking to improve to 12-1 on the season. But, can the Tigers provide a bigger threat than some expect and cover the spread or will Duke roll to an easy win at home?
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Clemson Tigers vs. Duke Blue Devils
Date and Time: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 8 p.m. ET
Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina
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Tigers vs. Blue Devils TV Coverage: ESPN
The Blue Devils are the best team in basketball by nearly any measure. Save a two-point loss to Gonzaga on a neutral court in Hawaii, Duke’s been as close to the perfect team as you can imagine.
The team ranks No.1 according to both the AP and the Coaches Poll while sitting atop the KenPom rankings and in the top-3 in both adjusted offense and defense ratings.
Duke’s generally a high scoring team with 92 PPG and three 100-point performances to date, but their most recent win was a 69-58 battle against Texas Tech. This team can win any type of game.
In the Texas Tech victory, Zion Williamson took center stage with a double-double, nabbing 17 points and 13 assists.
Williamson is one of four forwards in the starting lineup for Coach K and one of a plethora of talented freshman leading the way on the court, but he’s second on the team in scoring to R.J. Barrett.
Between Barrett, Williamson and Cam Reddish, Duke has one of the best frontcourts in the nation. The freshman trio are all scoring at least 13.5 PPG. Williamson is the bigger presence down low. He takes most of his shots under the basket and doesn’t miss. He’s also got 9.4 RPG and 1.9 BPG. Barrett is the leading scorer with 23.8 PPG though Williamson isn’t far off at 19.8.
Jack White is a nice older compliment to the trio inside. White doesn’t score as much as the three, but he’s a good presence and one that can deliver a key block or nab a rebound when needed.
On the outside, it’s all about Tre Jones, another freshman. Jones doesn’t get as much hype as most of the scoring comes from the aforementioned players, but Jones is a reliable shot all the same and an excellent ball handler with 5.6 APG.
Statistically, this team scores by pushing towards the basket. Duke is shooting 49.3-percent from the floor, but just 32.4-percent from the perimeter.
Clemson comes into this game having won four straight tough the Tigers’ 84-points against Lipscomb on Sunday was the highest since the team scored 100 against The Citadel in early November.
The Tigers are averaging 75 PPG as a team though the team’s shooting percentage is comparable to Duke’s both from the floor and three-point range.
Marcquise Reed is the leading scorer and with 20.1 PPG, he’s crucial to Clemson’s chances of keeping pace against Duke.
Reed plays on the outside along with fellow senior Shelton Mitchell. Neither guard is a good shot outside, shooting below 30-percent from the perimeter. It’s Aamir Simms and David Skara who are the more reliable shooters outside.
Inside, Elijah Thomas has his work cut out for him. The senior forward is the team’s leader on the glass and blocking with 7.6 RPG and 1.7 BPG. He’s also one third in scoring with 13.5 PPG.
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Early in the game, watch the pacing for Duke. The Blue Devils are a prolific offensive team and can run up the points, but most recently they were in a lower scoring game, beating Texas Tech 69-55. This team can win many different ways.
The lower score was partially a product of a strong Red Raiders’ team and playing in New York. Playing in the Cameron Indoor Stadium makes this matchup all the more intimidating for the Tigers.
Key Player
Reed and Mitchell will need big games as we can count on Duke scoring early and often in this game. They’ll be able to push towards the basket and dominate inside. Clemson almost needs a perfect game across the board to have a chance.
While Reed and Mitchell need to play well, it’s Thomas who is the key here. Thomas is the Tigers’ best threat under the basket. He’s the main rebounder and blocker on a team that’s undermanned inside against a Duke team able to throw out a trio of top NBA prospects inside.
Duke has nine more rebounds and twice as many blocks as a team compared to Clemson. The Tigers need Thomas at the top of his game.
Tigers vs. Blue Devils Live Betting
Simply put, the Blue Devils are the better team. Clemson entered the year with plenty of expectations, but to this point hasn’t delivered up to expectations.
The Tigers have plenty of experience and one of the better senior trios in the nation, but that’s not enough. The depth on the team is seriously lacking.
Look for Duke to dominate the inside and do enough on the perimeter, particularly considering Clemson’s overall struggles shooting from three-point range.
Duke should be able to add to the score late as the Blue Devils have the depth to keep their stars healthy and fresh while the strain of such a tough matchup for the Tigers figures to wear on the six players Clemson uses for most of the minutes each game.
Be sure to check out all of the live betting at BookMaker.eu for this weekend’s college basketball action.
NCAA Basketball Score Prediction: Duke 93, Clemson 74
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