Barring an unlikely meeting in the ACC tournament — or a far more unlikely matchup in a postseason tournament — Georgia Tech and Clemson will face each other for the second and final time this season at McCamish Pavilion on Saturday (noon, Fox Sports South).
For Tech big men Daniel Miller and Kammeon Holsey (as well as forward Jason Morris, out for the season with a foot injury), that means a final chance to prevent what would be an orange-and-purple stain on their Tech career resumes. Not counting their redshirt season in 2009-10, Holsey and Miller have not beaten Clemson in four seasons as Yellow Jackets.
“I’m excited to play them,” Miller said. “I think we can beat them.”
That’s the odd part about Clemson’s streak over Tech, which now stands at eight games, dating to the 2009-10 season. There is little reason to think Tech can’t beat Clemson. Removing the Tech-Clemson games since Holsey and Miller’s freshman season, Tech is 19-37 in ACC play and Clemson is 22-34. (No one said this rivalry is Duke-North Carolina.)
Over the past five Tech-Clemson games — those that have been played since coach Brian Gregory’s hire — the Jackets nearly have been the Tigers’ equals. They have lost by two points once, three points twice and four points once. The games have been low-scoring rumbles between defensive-oriented clubs.
The teams’ first meeting this season provided a typical conclusion. At Littlejohn Coliseum on Feb. 4, Tech trailed 43-41 and had possession with 1:14 left. A turnover by forward Marcus Georges-Hunt cost a possession, but Tech regained the ball with 24 seconds remaining after a Clemson miss. In the final seconds, Georges-Hunt drove to the basket and missed, and Holsey’s putback try was off. The Tigers sealed the 45-41 decision with free throws.
“They’ve made the plays at the end of games, be it a free throw or (they) get a defensive stop or make a big basket,” Gregory said.
Asked about the topic Thursday, Miller was well aware of his record against Clemson. He hoped to notch his first win over Duke on Tuesday, but the Jackets were hammered 68-51, extending their losing streak against the Blue Devils to seven. Florida State is the only other ACC team in the previous 12-member arrangement that Miller and Holsey haven’t beaten. The Seminoles have won the past eight, dating to the 2007-08 season.
Tech and FSU will meet for the only time in the regular season March 2 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Tech will be more fortified Saturday than it was in the loss to Clemson. In that game, the Jackets played without guard Trae Golden (groin) and forward Robert Carter (knee), both of whom are recovering well and are expected to be available. Also in that game, Georges-Hunt endured a 1-for-13 shooting night as Tech shot 16-for-46 from the field.
The Jackets figure to have their strongest lineup since ACC play started. If Tech needs any more motivation, a loss would put them under .500 for the first time since the 2011-12 season, Gregory’s first.
Said Miller, “I think this is the time to do it.”
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