North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Clemson
1/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2006
No. 15/14 NC STATE (15-4, 4-2) at CLEMSON (14-5, 3-3)
DATE: Sunday, January 29, 2006 @ Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, SC (10,000)
TIME: Tip-off: 1:30 p.m. EST
RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network
AIRTIME: 1:00 p.m. EST
TELEVISION: Raycom-Jefferson Pilot (ACC Network)
OPPONENT--Clemson has been idle since winning at Georgia Tech on January 21. The Tigers zone defense held the Yellow Jackets scoreless for 7 ½ minutes in the second-half of that 73-63 victory. Georgia Tech shot 32 percent (9-of-28) in the second half and couldn't bust the zone, hitting only 2-of-12 from beyond the 3-point arc.
Clemson surrendered only three baskets after Zam Frederick hit a 3-pointer with 14:18 remaining to give the Jackets a 57-50 lead. The Tigers countered with a 10-0 run and outscored Georgia Tech 23-6 the rest of the way to snap a two-game losing streak.
Akin Akingbala led Clemson with 19 points including seven down the stretch. The senior center converted on 7-of-15 from the field and 5-of-7 free throws. Julius Powell added 16 points while Shawan Robinson scored 15. Robinson put the Tigers ahead to stay with a 3-pointer that made it 60-57 with 10:43 remaining. For the game, Clemson made 6-of-14 three-pointers.
Anthony Morrow, one of the ACC's top 3-point shooters, topped Georgia Tech with 16 points, but made only one shot in his last nine attempts.
The Jackets ball handling was as bad as its second-half shooting. Tech finished with 27 turnovers and the Tigers converted those mistakes into 31 points. The Yellow Jackets managed only 10 points off 12 Clemson turnovers and failed to take advantage of a 49-27 rebounding edge.
The Tigers are athletic and their defense can be stingy. Clemson leads the ACC in steals (10.9) and ranks in the top-5 in scoring defense against league teams (67.3) while forcing an average of 19 turnovers a game. Inside, Akingbala and his back-up, Steve Allen, have combined to average 2.6 blocked shots per contest.
Offensively, like NC State, the Tigers can be difficult to defend because they can make 3-point shots and also drive the ball to the hoop. However, they sometimes struggle to score. Against ACC opponents, Clemson is last in the league in scoring, averaging 63.5 points a game while shooting .397 from the field.
Only NC State and Duke have made more 3-point shots than the Tigers, but only Troy Mathis (.457) and Vernon Hamilton (.353) are shooting above 35 percent from the arc. Robinson (.292), Cliff Hammonds (.240) and K.C. Rivers (.333) take the majority of Clemson's three-point shots.
When they miss, the Tigers do a good job crashing the offensive glass. Clemson gets back nearly 45 percent of its misses and averages 15.0 offensive rebounds a game against ACC opponents, fourth-best in the league.
Clemson is balanced offensively, but Hamilton is the guy who seems to get things done at the end of the shot clock. The junior guard is a very good shooter off the dribble and has improved his overall game. He leads the team in scoring, assists and steals (2.5) while shooting 49 percent from the field. However, like most of his teammates, except for Robinson (.911), he struggles at the free throw line (.519). Clemson is the ACC's worst free throw shooting team (.581).
For the last 8 games, the Tigers have been without James Mays. The 6-9 sophomore from Garner, NC, was averaging 9.2 points and 7.6 rebounds a game when he was declared academically ineligible.
NC State has won 7 of the last 8 games in the series including last season's only meeting 80-70 at Littlejohn Coliseum. Due to ACC expansion, this will be the only regular season game between the two teams in 2006.
A WIN--Would be the Wolfpack's second in its last 3 games, improving NC State to 16-4 overall and 5-2 in the ACC. The Pack would earn its 8th victory in the last 9 games over Clemson in the series, and 4th in the last 5 trips to Littlejohn Coliseum. NC State would improve to 3-3 on the road this season and 2-2 away from home in the ACC, while sending Clemson to its third loss in its last 4 games. The Tigers would drop to 14-6 overall and 3-4 in the ACC. This game will be the only regular season meeting between the Wolfpack and Tigers.
A LOSS--Would be the Wolfpack's second straight, third in the last four games and mark State's first back-to-back losses of the season. The Pack would drop to 15-5 overall and 4-3 in the ACC. Clemson would record its first win in the series over the Wolfpack since a 60-55 victory in 2004 at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Tigers would win their second straight game overall, improving to 15-5 and 4-3 in the ACC. This game will be the only regular season meeting between the Wolfpack and Tigers.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME--The Pack's loss to Seton Hall on Wednesday was its first a home this season. State is 12-1 at the RBC Center, including a 3-0 ACC mark.
DEFENSIVE DIALOG --Consistent defense is a hallmark of Wolfpack basketball under Herb Sendek. However, the Pack's last three opponents have all scored more than 80 points and State has lost two of those games. For the season, the Wolfpack is holding opponents to 64.2 points a game. State leads the ACC in field goal percentage defense in the ACC (.390).
SUPER CED --The most improved player on the NC State team is Cedric Simmons. The sophomore center recorded a career-high 28 points at Duke on Jan. 18th along with 9 rebounds, 7 blocked shots and 3 steals. Simmons played in 31 games last season and averaged 3.5 points and 1.8 rebounds. This season, he leads the team in scoring (12.8), rebounding (6.9) and blocked shots (2.9) while shooting a team high .637 from the field. He is No.2 in the ACC in blocked shots and is among the top-25 in scoring and rebounding.
MAKING HACKERS PAY--State sank 37-of-43 free throw attempts in its win over Wake Forest on January 21st. The Pack is shooting .745 from the line this season, third-best in the ACC.
GIVE ME LONG DISTANCE --State is No. 4 in the ACC in three-point percentage (.376) and has made more three-points shots (166) than anyone in the league this season. About 44 percent of the Pack's field goal attempts come from behind the arc (442-of-1008).
BETHEL BOMBS AWAY --Senior guard Tony Bethel leads the team in 3-point field goal percentage (.474) and has made 21 of his last 38 shots from the three-point arc (55%). In his last 7 games, he is shooting 32-of-62 from the field (52%). Bethel is NC State's best perimeter on-the-ball defender and is also a highly skilled playmaker and rebounder. Against Wake Forest on January 21st, Bethel had 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. In his last 2 games, he's averaging 15 points and 5 rebounds.
TURKISH DELIGHT-- Nobody on the Wolfpack team has played more minutes this season than Engin Atsur.. The native of Istanbul, Turkey, is one of the most versatile players in the ACC. The 6-4 junior leads the Pack in assists (79), steals (30) and minutes (32.1). Atsur has only 19 turnovers in his last 13 games. He's scored in double-figures in 10 of his last 12 games, but was shutout in the loss to Seton Hall on Wednesday. Atsur has started 77 consecutive games.
AS THE BALL TURNS --With only a few exceptions, the Wolfpack has done a good job taking care of the ball. State is averaging only 13.2 turnovers a game this season.
THE HIGHLIGHT CAM -- Cameron Bennerman has elevated his game. The athletic senior scored a career-high 26-points against Wake Forest on Jan. 21. In his last 13 appearances, Bennerman has averaged 14.8 points a game (192) while shooting 56 percent from the field during that span (75-of-133). The Greensboro native leads the ACC in free throw shooting (.912) and has made 22 straight foul shots.
BOARDWORK-- Rebounding has been a challenge for the Wolfpack this season, but State has won the battle of the boards in 5 of its last 9 games. However, in Wednesday's loss to Seton Hall, the Pirates held a 41-27 margin on the glass.
MR. ENERGY --Andrew Brackman, has come off the bench to energize the Pack. The 6-10 sophomore has averaged 10.3 points (93) while shooting 57 percent from the field (32-of-56) in his last 9 games.
HERE, YOU TAKE IT --NC State is averaging an assist on an impressive 64 percent of its field goals (313-of-486) this season.
INJURIES --Freshman forward Brandon Costner could miss his 14th straight game for the Wolfpack with a leg injury.
