Clemson will look to extend a number of streaks — and Louisville will attempt to halt a few of its own — on Wednesday when the Atlantic Coast Conference rivals meet in South Carolina.
The Tigers (13-3, 5-0 ACC) are off to their best start in conference play since 1996-97. They have won five in a row overall and all eight games played at home heading into Wednesday’s encounter at Clemson.
The Cardinals (2-14, 0-5), conversely have lost five straight games overall and all three contests on the road this season.
Chase Hunter scored 17 points to lift Clemson to a 75-74 win over Pitt on Saturday. Hunter Tyson recorded his fourth consecutive double-double by collecting 15 points and 10 rebounds versus the Panthers, and PJ Hall added 12 and 10, respectively.
“We’ve got a lot of homegrown talent, PJ Hall, Hunter Tyson, Chase Hunter, three guys who have been in our program for a long time,” Tigers coach Brad Brownell said. “(They) know how we do things, how we compete (and) they’ve gotten better and better.”
Hunter scored 10 points in Clemson’s 70-61 loss to Louisville last season. El Ellis scored 11 points and Jae’Lyn Withers added 10 for the Cardinals in that contest.
Ellis, who boasts a team-leading average of 17.8 points per game, scored 20 points and added eight assists in Louisville’s 80-72 setback versus Wake Forest on Saturday.
Mike James received ACC Rookie of the Week honors on Monday, two days after he drained five 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 24 points.
Thanks to Ellis and James, the Cardinals nearly overcame a 22-point deficit before falling short versus the Demon Deacons. Just don’t tell that to Louisville coach Kenny Payne.
“Moral victories? I don’t want them,” Payne said. “I want us to play better the whole game. I just told the guys, ‘Don’t find new ways to lose — fight.’ I don’t care if they may have more talent than us. Fight. Fight every second you are out on the floor.”
–Field Level Media