The Clemson Tigers are set to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a crucial ACC matchup, with Clemson looking to continue their strong season, having gone 3-2 over their last 5 games, averaging 65.2 points per game, while Wake Forest is trying to right the ship, having lost 3 of their last 5, averaging 77 points per game, but allowing 78.8 points per game, resulting in a -1.8 point differential. Wake Forest's recent form has been marked by inconsistency, with a 2-3 record over their last 5 games, including a 68-63 win over Stanford and an 83-67 win over Georgia Tech, but also an 80-88 loss to Louisville and a 78-96 loss to NC State. Clemson, on the other hand, has been stingy on defense, allowing just 62.8 points per game over their last 5, and outscoring their opponents by 2.4 points per game.
Key Matchups
Clemson's strong defense has been a key factor in their success, and they'll look to continue that trend against a Wake Forest team that has struggled with consistency on offense, scoring 76 points against Pittsburgh, but just 68 against Stanford, and they've been led by their top scorers, who have been on a hot streak, with one player averaging 18.5 points per game over the last 5 games, and another adding 15.2 points per game, and they'll look to exploit Wake Forest's defensive struggles, which have seen them allow 80 points or more in 3 of their last 5 games, including 96 points to NC State, and 88 points to Louisville. Wake Forest's top scorers have also been on a tear, with one player averaging 22.1 points per game over the last 5, and another adding 18.8 points per game, and they'll look to take advantage of Clemson's occasional defensive lapses, which have seen them allow 67 points or more in 2 of their last 5 games.
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have been struggling to find consistency on both ends of the floor, and their recent trend of being outscored by 1.8 points per game over their last 5 games is a concern, especially given that they've been outscored by 10 points or more in 2 of those games, including a 96-78 loss to NC State, and a 80-76 loss to Pittsburgh. Clemson, on the other hand, has been trending in the right direction, with a 3-2 record over their last 5 games, and a +2.4 point differential, and they've been led by their strong defense, which has allowed just 62.8 points per game over that stretch, and they've also been efficient on offense, scoring 65.2 points per game, and outscoring their opponents by 2.4 points per game. The Clemson Tigers have been solid on the road, with a 7-3 record away from home, and they'll look to continue that trend against Wake Forest, which has a 9-4 record at home.
CHD Scout Prediction
Clemson
76
Wake Forest
72
The CHD Scout prediction has Clemson winning by 4.4 points, with a 35.2% win probability for Wake Forest, and this is largely due to Clemson's strong defense, which has been able to shut down opponents and limit their scoring opportunities, and they've been particularly effective in limiting opponents' three-point shooting, allowing just 32.1% from beyond the arc over their last 5 games. Wake Forest, on the other hand, has struggled with defensive consistency, and they've allowed opponents to shoot 45.1% from the field over their last 5 games, and they've also struggled with rebounding, being outrebounded by 2.8 boards per game over that stretch. Clemson's ability to control the tempo and limit Wake Forest's scoring opportunities will be key to their success, and they'll look to use their strong defense to dictate the pace of the game.
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are on the NCAA Tournament bubble, and a win over Clemson would be a significant boost to their resume, as it would give them a much-needed Quad 1 win, and it would also improve their conference record to 5-8, and they would still have a chance to finish above .500 in conference play. A loss, on the other hand, would be a significant setback, and it would drop them to 4-9 in conference play, and they would be in danger of falling out of contention for a tournament bid. Clemson, on the other hand, is projected as a top-4 seed, and a win would help them maintain their position, and they would improve to 11-3 in conference play, and they would be in a strong position to win the conference title.
Tournament Stakes
A win for Wake Forest would be a huge resume booster, as it would give them a Quad 1 win over a top-30 team, and it would also show that they can compete with the top teams in the conference, and it would be a significant step towards securing a tournament bid. A loss, on the other hand, would be a missed opportunity, and it would leave them with a lot of work to do to get back into contention, and they would need to win several of their remaining games to have a chance at a bid. For Clemson, a win would be a significant step towards securing a top-4 seed, and it would also give them a strong position in the conference standings, and they would be in a good position to win the conference title, and a loss would be a setback, but it wouldn't be devastating, as they would still have a strong resume and a good position in the conference standings.
The Clemson Tigers have been solid on both ends of the floor, and they've been led by their strong defense, which has allowed just 62.8 points per game over their last 5 games, and they've also been efficient on offense, scoring 65.2 points per game, and outscoring their opponents by 2.4 points per game. Wake Forest, on the other hand, has struggled with consistency on both ends of the floor, and their recent trend of being outscored by 1.8 points per game over their last 5 games is a concern, especially given that they've been outscored by 10 points or more in 2 of those games, including a 96-78 loss to NC State, and a 80-76 loss to Pittsburgh. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons must find a way to slow down Clemson's offense, which has been clicking on all cylinders, and they'll also need to find a way to score against Clemson's stingy defense, which has been shutting down opponents all season, and they've been particularly effective in limiting opponents' three-point shooting, allowing just 32.1% from beyond the arc over their last 5 games.