Louisville-Clemson basketball: How to watch, what to watch for
Clemson (12-12, 6-8 ACC) hosts Louisville (21-4, 12-2) on Saturday at Littlejohn Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. The game will be televised by the ACC Network.
A few storylines for the game:
1. Will Clemson’s hot shooting continue?
Clemson made 13 of 22 3-point attempts against Pitt on Wednesday night and snapped a three-game losing skid while earning a much-needed victory. The 13 made 3-pointers were Clemson’s most in an ACC game this season, and the Tigers made 59.1 percent of their 3-point attempts, which is the highest percentage since the 2012-13 season.
2. Dawes emerging at the right time
Clemson point guard Al-Amir Dawes has had an up-and-down freshman campaign. The New Jersey native got off to a strong start to the year, before going through some struggles after nonconference play when the competition started to pick up. But Dawes has rebounded and seems to be playing his best ball of the season as Clemson enters the stretch run. Dawes scored 17 points in the second half against Pitt and 18 in the game. He has scored in double figures in two of the past three games after previously going seven consecutive games without reaching that mark.
3. How will the Cardinals bounce back?
Louisville had one of its worst offensive performances of the season Wednesday against Georgia Tech, scoring only 58 points in the loss to the Yellow Jackets. The last time the Cardinals dropped a game, prior to Wednesday night, they ended up dropping the next game as well. Louisville needs to avoid that at Clemson to stay atop the ACC standings as the Cardinals (12-2) are clinging to a half-game lead in the ACC, just ahead of Duke (11-2).
Louisville
Coach: Chris Mack (256-115 in 11 seasons overall; 2nd season at Louisville — 41-18)
Projected starters: F Dwayne Sutton (8.8 ppg), F Jordan Nwora (18.8), C Steven Enoch (10.2), G Fresh Kimble (5.0), G Darius Perry (5.9)
Last game: Lost at Georgia Tech 64-58 on Wednesday
KenPom ranking: 8 (No. 10 in offensive efficiency, No. 30 in defensive efficiency)
NET: 7
CLEMSON
Coach: Brad Brownell (348-224 in 18 seasons overall; 10th season at Clemson — 181-139)
Projected starters: F Tevin Mack (12.3 ppg), F Aamir Simms (13.3), G Clyde Trapp (6.1), G Al-Amir Dawes (8.1), G John Newman III (9.2)
Last game: Won at Pitt 72-52 on Wednesday
KenPom ranking: 81 (No. 182 in offense efficiency, No. 31 in defense efficiency)
NET: 83
Game info
Who: Louisville (21-4, 12-2) at Clemson (12-12, 6-8)
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Littlejohn Coliseum
TV channel: ACC Network
Watch online: WatchESPN
Radio: 1400 AM in Columbia area
Series: Louisville leads 7-2
Last meeting: Jan 25, 2020 — Louisville 80, Clemson 62
This story was originally published February 15, 2020 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Louisville-Clemson basketball: How to watch, what to watch for."
