Clemson (9-8) at Miami-Florida (9-6) (ET)

GAME NOTES: The Clemson Tigers head South tonight for an Atlantic Coast Conference bout with the Miami-Florida Hurricanes at the BankUnited Center.

This will be the 18th meeting in the all-time series. The Tigers come into tonight holding an 11-6 advantage in the rivalry.

Clemson comes into tonight on a two-game losing slide after a tough 73-66 loss to the powerhouse Duke Blue Devils on Sunday. The defeat made Clemson 9-8 overall and 1-2 in league action. The Tigers shot 39.4 percent from the field and made just 10-of-20 from the charity stripe in the contest with the Blue Devils. The poor offensive showing was nothing new, as Clemson has the second worst scoring offense in the ACC with an average of just 64.4 ppg. Head coach Brad Brownell has shown to be a defensive minded coach this season as his team is second in the league in scoring defense with an allowed average of just 58.6 ppg.

Clemson is led by the duo of Andre Young and Tanner Smith. Young is averaging a team-best 13.1 ppg on 39.5 percent shooting from the field. The senior guard was decent in his last outing, pouring in 12 points to make it six games in a row in double figures. Smith plays well opposite the 5-9 Young in the backcourt, as he is second on the team in scoring with 10.7 ppg. Smith chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds versus Duke . Devin Booker broke out of his slump against the Blue Devils as he recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 boards. It was the first double-double for Booker since Nov. 19th, and first double-digit scoring performance in three games.

Miami enters the ball game with a 9-6 overall record but an 0-2 ACC mark. The Hurricanes are also on a two-game losing streak after back to back losses to nationally ranked opponents, Virginia and North Carolina. The 73-56 loss to the Tar Heels was the second straight game Miami was held under 60 points. Despite the two poor outings, the Hurricanes still carry a respectable scoring average of 70.9 ppg. Miami will need to up its rebounding effort, as it was beat 44-27 in the battle of the boards its last time out. Head coach Jim Larranaga has done a much better job at home in his first season with the team, as Miami is 7-1 at the BankUnited Center this year.

Larranaga will look to Malcolm Grant, Durand Scott, and Kenny Kadji to push his team to its first ACC victory tonight. Grant posted back-to-back 20 points games earlier this season and leads the team in scoring with 13.2 ppg despite averaging less than seven points per game in his last three games. Scott has scored in double-figures in all but two games, but has struggled from three- point range recently, going just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc in his last four games. Kadji has been a big-time inside presence recently. The junior center has recorded two double-doubles and averaged 20 points and eight rebounds per game in his last three.

Miami is in good position to pick up its first win tonight if Kadji can continue his hot streak. Grant and Scott will need to perform better in the backcourt for the Hurricanes as they square off with Young and Smith.

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Source: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/01/18/2608870/clemson-9-8-at-miami-florida-9.html

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