Jan 31st NCAA Prediction: Clemson Tigers at Virginia Cavaliers
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
Points should be at a premium when the Atlantic Coast Conference's top two defensive teams square off with No. 18 Virginia Cavaliers facing visiting Clemson Tigers at John Paul Jones Arena.
The Cavaliers lead the ACC in scoring defense, allowing only 50.6 points per game. Clemson ranks second at 59.7 points allowed per contest. Virginia leads the series 66-51, including a 39-17 advantage at home, but the Tigers have won three of the past five meetings.
Clemson will be without junior Milton Jennings, who was suspended for failure to comply with the team's academic standards, coach Brad Brownell announced Monday. A former McDonald's All-American who has failed to live up to expectations for the Tigers, Jennings was averaging a career-high 8.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game this season.
- Clemson Tigers @ Virginia Cavaliers
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Where: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, Virginia
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN3.com
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Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Cavaliers listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Tigers.
Clemson Tigers (11-9): The Tigers have won two straight - both at home - after a three-game losing streak. Senior guard Andre Young has been hot during the brief winning streak, scoring 48 points to boost his team-leading average to 13.9 points per game. Young averages 16.3 points in ACC games. The Tigers are 2-4 on the road this season, including 0-2 in ACC play. They haven't beaten a ranked team on the road since March 4, 2007, when they knocked off No. 21 Virginia Tech.
Virginia Cavaliers (17-3): The Cavaliers were looking like an ACC title contender after pushing Duke to the limit at Cameron Indoor Stadium and pummeling Georgia Tech on the road, but a misstep against rival Virginia Tech knocked their stock down a bit. They've rebounded with impressive wins against Boston College and at N.C. State, though, with the latter coming in dramatic fashion when N.C. State's Lorenzo Brown missed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to allow Virginia to escape with a 61-60 win.
1. Mike Scott, who leads Virginia with 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, has scored in double digits in seven consecutive games, including 18 in each of the Cavaliers' past three wins.
2. Virginia has held three of its past four opponents under 50 points. The Cavaliers have held nine opponents under 50 this season, the most since the 1981-82 season.
3. Clemson's defense has been solid all season, and the Tigers are picking it up at the offensive end during conference play. They've averaged 68.3 points in six ACC games, nearly five points higher than their average during the non-conference slate.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Cavaliers 59, Tigers 53.
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andre young - brad brownell - clemson tigers - john paul jones arena - lorenzo brown - mike scott - milton jennings - virginia cavaliers
