Clemson basketball vs. Virginia Tech: Scouting report, score prediction
Clemson basketball will try to stay as hot in the new year as the end of the old year.
The Tigers (11-3, 3-0 ACC) open the post-holiday schedule Wednesday (9 p.m., ESPNU) against Virginia Tech (11-3, 1-2) at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia, on a three-game win streak. The last two were league blowouts. Clemson on Friday beat N.C. State by 14 and before that won at Georgia Tech by 13.
Virginia Tech has lost two straight, both on the road and both close. The Hokies fell to Boston College in overtime and then Saturday to Wake Forest, 77-75.
In the national rankings by Ken Pomeroy, Clemson is No. 60 and Virginia Tech is No. 30.
Virginia Tech has beaten Clemson eight times in the past 10 games. The Hokies' only losses were at Littlejohn Coliseum in 2018-19 and to end last regular season. In the ACC tournament, Virginia Tech beat Clemson in overtime on the way to a championship.
BASKETBALL BOLDNESS: Our boldest predictions for Clemson basketball this season
ORANGE BOWL: Clemson football crumbles vs. Tennessee in Orange Bowl, Cade Klubnik's first start
TURNING PRO: Clemson football DL Bryan Bresee declares for 2023 NFL Draft
Clemson's Hunter Tyson had one for record books
Hunter Tyson against N.C. State had one of the best games in Clemson basketball history with 31 points and 15 rebounds.
It was the first time a Clemson player had 30 points and 15 boards since Horace Grant had 31 and 20 in a Feb. 18, 1987, game against Wake Forest. Tyson became Clemson's third player to reach those numbers. Grant did it twice and Randy Mahaffey did it during the 1966-67 season.
Tyson scored 17 straight points and totaled 26 in the second half. He made all nine free throws and his final seven shots from the field.
Virginia Tech's Hunter Cattoor expected to return
Virginia Tech didn't have one of its top players, Hunter Cattoor, against Wake Forest. He was out with a bruised elbow but is expected back to play Clemson.
Cattoor averages 9.6 points per game, leads Virginia Tech in 3-pointers with 27 (40.3 percent) and is the Hokies' best defender on the perimeter. He was MVP of last season's ACC tournament. In the final, a win against No. 1 seed Duke, he scored 31 points and made seven 3-pointers.
Cattoor was a Wofford commit for coach Mike Young but switched to Virginia Tech after Young took that job.
Threes big for Clemson basketball vs. Virginia Tech
Clemson leads the ACC in 3-point shooting at 38.8 percent, but Virginia Tech is fourth in 3-point defense (30.6 percent) and has been mostly shut-down on the perimeter lately.
Alex Hemenway of Clemson makes 50 percent (27-for-54) of his 3-pointers and would lead the ACC if he had enough attempts. Chase Hunter is 27-for-59 (45.8 percent) and Tyson 29-for-66 (43.9 percent). Post player PJ Hall is 11-for-27 (40.7 percent).
Wake Forest was 11-for-28 (39.3 percent) on 3-pointers against Virgina Tech, but the Hokies held their previous six opponents to only 27-for-116 (23.3 percent).
Prediction
Virginia Tech 70, Clemson 62: The Tigers are playing great, but it's difficult to see them making enough threes to beat the Hokies in their own gym, especially with Cattoor back on the floor.
Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson basketball vs. Virginia Tech scouting report, score prediction
