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Random Jinxes Aside, Michigan Survives

Zack NovakWith Michigan leading Clemson by 12 with 11:36 to go in the second half of Thursday's first-round game, someone casually asked me, "Hey, do you know what time Michigan will play on Saturday?"

Memo to fans everywhere: That's a cardinal sin. You do not look ahead in March, especially when you're supporting a team that hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game in more than a decade. Sure enough, immediately after that question landed, Clemson made its move. The Tigers used a late 11-0 run to pull within one of Michigan, setting up up a thrilling finish in the South Region.
No. 10 Michigan 62, No. 7 Clemson 59: AP Recap | Box Score | Bracket | Scores

Clemson Not Scared of Blue Devils

Clemson and Duke square off tonight at 9PM ET in Death Valley with, kind of surprisingly, a lot on the line. That's not an insult to the Tigers necessarily, but this game has "marquee win" potential written all over it. Duke's ranked fourth in the country (first in the ACC) and the Tigers, despite an 18-2 record and a 10th overall national ranking, still aren't getting everyone's respect.

And despite the high octane nature of the Devils' offense, the Tigers simply aren't scared. In fact, they're confident.

Clemson Suffering From One Heel of a Ridiculous Streak

Long ago, this stopped being merely a streak.

Streaks are what happens when you defy the odds long enough to become noticeable. A NFL team wins seven in a row. That's a streak. You flip a coin and get heads half a dozen times consecutively. That's a streak. Alex Rodriguez dates a woman whose age is lower than a Tiger Woods golf score? Even once, that too is a streak.

But long ago, this became less skid and more law of nature, something Newton scribbled about between the bit about apples and equal and opposition reactions.

Clemson Presses Illinois For the ACC's First Win in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Clemson turned on the offensive and defensive pressure in the second half, forcing 17 Illinois turnovers and squeaking out a 76-74 win in Champaign.

In one of the best games of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Clemson shot an amazing 58% from the field (Illinois shot a darn good 51.7% themselves). It was a fun, physical game to watch and had just 21 combined free throws attempted.

Clemson had a balanced attack. Demontez Stitt scored 18 points, Trevor Booker added 16 while K.C. Rivers and Raymond Sykes chipped in 14 points apiece.

Illinois was less balanced. Mike Davis scored a career-high 28 points and Demetri McCamey added 20. The rest of the team combined for just 26 points.

This is the first win for the ACC in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge after the Big Ten took the first two games. It was also the third straight road win to open the series.

Clemson Comes Back on Maryland: Fear the Choking Turtle

Who would have thunk that it would be Clemson that was the strong finisher who could make an outstanding comeback on the road over a tournament hopeful team?

Maryland's hopes for the tournament took a major blow today as they choked away a 20-point lead and lost to Clemson, 73-70. Maryland had a 59-39 lead about halfway through the second half. Clemson then goes on a 34-11 run to end the game ... bolstering their own tournament resume.

The Terps have lost three of their last four games (and 4 of 6) and fading away. This is the second straight home loss for a team that already had a shaky record, uninspiring RPI ranking and was falling in the ACC standings. How wild is it that the only win they have over a team that will be in the dance is one at North Carolina?

They have one regular season game left (at a slightly dangerous Virginia) before the ACC tournament starts. The Terps can't win the ACC tourney, which means they will have at least 13 losses on their record. Even if they win two more games and get to 20 wins, last year we saw that it may mean nothing to the selection committee.

Is This the Year Clemson Finally Wins at North Carolina? (Psst ... They are 0-52)

Clemson visits North Carolina on Sunday, meaning that we all have to pull out the most unbelievable stat in ACC basketball: the Tigers are 0-52 at Chapel Hill. Since their first meeting at Carolina back in 1926 (a 50-20 Tar Heel win) to the last time Clemson visited (a 16-point loss in 2006), the Tigers have gone home losers each and every time they come to Chapel Hill to play.

Does that end on Sunday? Maybe.

The Tar Heels enter the game reeling a bit. They lost to rival Duke by 11 on Wednesday and are fighting injuries and some lack of confidence. Point guard Ty Lawson has missed all but two minutes of the Heels' last two games with a high ankle sprain while his back-up, Bobby Frasor, was lost for the season with a knee injury in December. His backcourt mate, Wayne Ellington, has been struggling ... hitting just six of his last 23 shots and is just 26-of-73 (35%)over the last six games. The sweet shooting Ellington also has hit just six of his last 28 shots from behind the arc.

Wayne Ellington Goes Off, Hits Game Winning Shot in Carolina Win Over Clemson



What a prelude to the ACC season!

#19 Clemson had #1 North Carolina on the ropes all game long. They led virtually the entire way until Wayne Ellington, Danny Green and clutch shooting got the game into overtime. In OT and down 88-87, Ellington his a smooth three (among all kinds of pressure) with :00.4 seconds left to pull the game out for North Carolina, 90-88.

Ellington had a career day. Dude scored 36 points on 11-of-19 shooting ... including 5 of 8 from downtown. None was as big as the final shot, which looked as calm as a free throw despite the pass to him nearly being stolen and with a hand in his face. Ellington scored seven of the Heels' nine points in overtime.

If not for Ellington, this game was over. Tyler Hansbrough got a double-double (12 points, 15 boards) but got absolutely nothing going all game. Clemson used Trevor Booker, James Mays and Raymond Sykes to nag Psycho T into attempting just eight shots.

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