• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Clemson welcomes No. 17 Duke to town Thursday

Feb 22, 2007 - 5:47 PM No. 17 Duke (20-7) at Clemson (19-7) 9:00 pm EST

CLEMSON, South Carolina (Ticker) -- Clemson has slowed to a grinding halt after its fast start.

The Tigers will try to get back on track Thursday when they host No. 17 Duke in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash.

After beginning the season with 17 straight wins, the Tigers have lost seven of their last nine games to move onto the NCAA tournament bubble. Clemson (19-7, 5-7 ACC) has fallen into a tie for seventh place in the conference.

Duke (20-7, 7-6) has won its last two games after a four-game losing streak, quieting the rumors that the program is falling off.

In the first meeting between the teams on January 25, the Blue Devils scored a 68-66 home win when David McClure hit a layup at the buzzer.

Clemson will have to do a better job on the boards against Duke after being outrebounded, 40-24, in the first meeting.

The Tigers' latest loss was an 82-66 drubbing at the hands of Maryland. Clemson allowed four Terrapins to score in double figures and let Maryland shoot 56 percent (32-of-57).

Duke is coming off a 72-61 victory over Georgia Tech in which point guard Greg Paulus led the Blue Devils with 15 points and five assists.