10th-ranked Irish seek turnaround against Tigers

Feb 10, 2015 - 3:49 PM Clemson, SC (SportsNetwork.com) - Coming off their worst loss of the new millennium, the 10th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish close out a two-game road trip with Tuesday's ACC clash with the Clemson Tigers at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Mike Brey's Irish have shown a little vulnerability of late, with losses in two of their last three games. The team is still an impressive 21-4 on the year, with a 9-3 league ledger, but enters this contest off a miserable, 90-60 blowout loss at Duke last weekend, the team's worst loss since a 31-point setback to UConn in 1999.

Brad Brownell's Tigers were cruising heading into last weekend, as they were sporting a four-game win streak. However, the streak came to a crashing halt at Miami, as the Hurricanes earned a 56-45 decision to leave Clemson at 14-9 overall and 6-5 in the ACC.

This marks just the second all-time meeting between these two programs. Notre Dame won the first meeting last year in South Bend, 68-64 (2OT). These two teams will meet again in the regular-season finale at Purcell Pavilion on March 7.

The Irish were completely blown out by Duke in Durham on Saturday, as the usually efficient squad managed to shoot just .397 from the field in the game, while Duke delivered on .608 overall, including an eye-popping .810 in the first half. Star guard Jerian Grant struggled big time at Cameron Indoor Stadium, going 3-of-10 from the floor and managing just seven points in the loss. Steve Vasturia led the way in defeat with 15 points. Demetrius Jackson was the only other player to finish in double figures for Notre Dame, with 11 points.

The loss to Duke was a definite anomaly for Notre Dame this season, as the team is still among the nation's premier offensive squads, averaging 80.0 ppg, on an efficient .515 shooting (second nationally). Grant is playing at an All- America level, ranking fifth in the ACC in scoring (16.8 ppg) and first in assists (6.3 apg). Pat Connaughton is next in the scoring column (13.3 ppg) and despite his size (6-5), ranks sixth in the ACC in rebounding (8.1 rpg). Zach Auguste (13.1 ppg) and Jackson (12.8 ppg) add to the scoring deluge for Notre Dame.

Clemson took a one-point lead into halftime against Miami (25-24), but shot just .273 from the field in the second half, while the Hurricanes caught fire, converting at a .524 clip over the final 20 minutes to earn an 11-point decision at BankUnited Center. There weren't a whole lot of offensive standouts in the loss for Clemson, as Donte Grantham and Jordan Roper led the way with 10 points each. Leading scorer Jaron Blossomgame finished with just six points and four rebounds in 27 minutes of work.

Blossomgame has been the driving force for Clemson at both ends of the floor this season. The 6-7 sophomore is shooting a solid .472 from the floor overall and paces the team in both scoring (12.9 ppg) and rebounding (7.9 rpg). No other Tiger is averaging double figures in the scoring department, although Grantham (9.8 ppg), Rod Hall (8.7 ppg) and Damarcus Harrison (8.4 ppg) aren't far off the mark.