Syracuse-Clemson basketball: How to watch, what to watch for
Clemson (10-9, 4-5 ACC) hosts Syracuse (13-7, 6-3) on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Littlejohn Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Fox Sports South will broadcast.
Clemson-Syracuse storylines
1. Staying hot at home
Clemson has won its last three home games, with a win over No. 3 Duke coming during that stretch. The Tigers are 8-4 at home this season and will play a Syracuse team that is 4-1 on the road. Syracuse is undefeated on the road in ACC play with wins at Georgia Tech, at Virginia, at Virginia Tech and at Notre Dame.
2. Syracuse playing well
The Orange really struggled early on in 2019-20 and had an 8-7 record and 1-3 mark in ACC play. Since then Syracuse has won five straight, with the biggest win being a 63-55 overtime victory at No. 18 Virginia. Syracuse has four players averaging double figures, led by Elijah Hughes (19.2) and Buddy Boeheim (16.2). Clemson has two in Aamir Simms (13.8) and Tevin Mack (11.6).
3. What’s happened to Aamir Simms?
Speaking of Simms, Clemson needs him to pick it up to beat Syracuse Tuesday night. The junior scored four points Saturday at Louisville and seven points last Tuesday at Wake Forest as Clemson struggled offensively in both games. The five games before that Simms had scored at least 17 points in all of them. Simms scored at least eight points in 15 of the first 17 games before failing to reach that mark each of the past two.
SYRACUSE
Coach: Jim Boeheim (44th season at Syracuse — 959-392)
Projected starters: G Joseph Girard (11.9 ppg), G Buddy Boeheim (16.2), F Marek Dolezaj (10.2), F Elijah Hughes (19.2), F Bourama Sidibe (5.5)
Last game: Beat Pitt 69-61 at home on Saturday
KenPom ranking: 49 (No. 20 in offensive efficiency, No. 116 in defensive efficiency)
NET: 64
CLEMSON
Coach: Brad Brownell (346-221 in 18 seasons overall; 10th season at Clemson — 179-136)
Projected starters: G Clyde Trapp (6.0 ppg), G Curran Scott (7.3), G John Newman (9.8), F Tevin Mack (11.6), F Aamir Simms (13.8)
Last game: Lost at No. 6 Louisville 80-62 on Saturday
KenPom ranking: 85 (No. 165 in offense efficiency, No. 50 in defense efficiency)
NET: 81
Game info
Who: Syracuse (13-7, 6-3) at Clemson (10-9, 4-5)
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Littlejohn Coliseum
TV channel: Fox Sports South
Watch online: WatchESPN
Radio: 1400 AM in Columbia area
Series: Clemson leads 5-4
Last meeting: March 9, 2019 — Clemson 67, Syracuse 55
Line: Clemson is favored by 1.5. The over-under is 134.
This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 9:58 AM.
