Line-Up
The Sports Network
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, January 14th, 7:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Smith Center (21,750) -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Television: Local. Home Record: Clemson 9-1, N. Carolina 4-1. Away Record: Clemson 0-0, N. Carolina 3-3. Neutral Record: Clemson 1-0, N. Carolina 2-1. Conference Record: Clemson 0-1, N. Carolina 1-1. Series Record: North Carolina leads, 111-17.
GAME NOTES: ACC powers collide in Chapel Hill tonight as the North Carolina Tar Heels play host to the surprising Clemson Tigers. After winning its first nine games to start the season, Clemson suffered an 89-71 setback to top- ranked Duke in its conference opener. The Tigers were able to bounce back on Saturday with a 75-52 decision over Morris Brown, another team to add to the list of weak non-league opponents that they have faced this season. Although Clemson did defeat Cincinnati, its other victories have come over the likes of High Point, Liberty and Coastal Carolina. Tonight's game represents the first true road contest for the Tigers in 2002-03. As for North Carolina, it has certainly cooled off since a torrid 5-0 start to the season. The Tar Heels have lost five of their last nine games, including a 79-72 setback to Virginia on Saturday. They are currently 4-1 at home, as their only loss in Chapel Hill came by 17 points to nationally-ranked Kentucky back in early December. North Carolina has beaten Clemson in three straight meetings and owns a staggering 111-17 lead in the all-time series between the two teams.
Clemson made just two of its 14 three-point attempts against Morris Brown, but advantages in size and strength enabled the squad to easily overcome that lackluster, long-range shooting performance. The Tigers held a commanding 42-24 rebounding advantage in the contest and limited their overmatched opponent to 37 percent shooting from the floor. Ray Henderson scored a season- high 15 points on 7-of-7 from the field to lead the way in the victory. Sharrod Ford added 12 points for Clemson, which won by at least 20 points for the third time this season. Ford and Henderson both grabbed 11 rebounds on the night. Edward Scott connected on only 2-of-11 field goal attempts and finished with eight points, but he continues to lead the Tigers with 18.4 ppg. Scott also paces the squad with 6.5 apg, and he managed to dish out six helpers against Morris Brown. Chey Christie (11.5 ppg) and Ford (10.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg) round out the double-digit scorers for Clemson.
North Carolina trailed Virginia by 18 points at the half, and despite a solid effort in the closing stanza, the squad was unable to climb back and avoid defeat. A major problem for the Tar Heels in the game was perimeter shooting, as they connected on only 7-of-27 attempts from long range. At the defensive end, they enabled the Cavaliers to make good on 49.1 percent of their field goal attempts, including 11-of-26 from behind the arc. On a positive note, UNC held a 40-35 rebounding advantage, including a 22-12 edge on the offensive glass. The Tar Heels also turned the ball over just 10 time in 40 minutes of action. Jawad Williams paced the squad in defeat with 18 points and nine rebounds, and Rashad McCants chipped in 16 points. Raymond Felton scored 12 points to go along with six boards and five assists. McCants is averaging 18.4 ppg this season on 52.3 percent shooting from the floor, including 43.1 percent from three-point range. Williams added 13.5 ppg and 6.3 rpg, and Felton is netting 10.l ppg. Rookie center Sean May remains sidelined with injury, and his 12.1 ppg and 8.6 rpg have been sorely missed.
The Tar Heels are in desperate need of a win to restore some confidence, and Clemson is not as good as its 10-1 record suggests. That said, give the nod to UNC, which should have enough in the tank to outlast the Tigers, particularly in front of the frenzied hometown faithful.