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What: No. 16/17 Virginia Cavaliers (20-5, 11-1 ACC) vs. Clemson Tigers (15-8, 6-5 ACC)
Time: 12:00 noon
Place: Littlejohn Coliseum
TV: ESPN 2, WatchESPN.com
Radio: Virginia Sports Radio Network
Last Meeting: UVA 71, Clemson 47 (Feb. 7, 2013)
Odds: Vegas: UVA -4.5 | KenPom: UVA 51, Clemson 48 (65%)
According to KenPom, today's game is the toughest for the Cavaliers outside of the Syracuse game in Charlottesville in early March. Being favored by only 4.5 points by Vegas, this is one of the closest predictions that Virginia fans have seen in some time.
The Hoos have not won at Clemson since 2007, which was also the last time Virginia won a share of the ACC regular season title. Virginia was a 4-seed in the NCAA tournament that year.
Clemson has lost four of their last six, including their last two, at Syracuse and at Notre Dame. They are ranked 230 by KenPom in adjusted offensive efficiency at 101.4. Junior forward K.J. McDaniels is the leading scorer for the Tigers, at a whopping 17.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
But their defense is what's worth noting. While the Cavaliers are ranked second by Pomeroy with a defensive adjusted efficiency of 87.2, Clemson's not far behind at 90.6, ranked sixth in the country. Clemson holds their opponents to an effective field goal percentage of just 42.0% (third in the country), while Virginia is allowing 44% (12th).
Big challenge for Virginia here before what should be a fairly comfortable stretch leading up to the Syracuse game.
Leave your pre-, in-, and post-game thoughts here and as always, Go HOOS!
