Tigers expect high-octane matchup

CLEMSON -- Moments after Missouri was revealed as Clemson's first-round opponent, a copy of Missouri's stats was handed to Oliver Purnell.

While Clemson's coach poured over the vital numbers, video coordinator Andy Farrell left the selection show party to search for digital footage of Missouri. The staff has recorded nearly every televised college basketball game this season, thanks to four DirecTV DVRs in the basketball offices.

Part of what puts the madness in March is teams often have little familiarity with their opponents, and little time to scout: at 2:45 p.m. today, the Tigers will be T-minus 72 hours from Friday's tip-off in Buffalo N.Y.

"Other than their style, I don't know much about (Missouri)," Purnell said. "We watched them on tape one season, against (Louisville coach Rick) Pitino or somebody. We watched them a little bit against Kansas, five or 10 minutes. We studied some of their tape over the summer, looking at their pressures and looking at our pressures."

Clemson players know less.

"I know they (Missouri) like to press," Clemson forward Trevor Booker said. "That's the only thing we know, really."

What the No. 7 seed ACC Tigers might learn as they study the 10th-seeded Big XII Tigers is they share more than a nickname.

Pushing the pace

Both teams feature full-court pressure and prefer to run.

Missouri leads the country with 11 steals per game. Clemson is fifth in steals (9.6).

"It's going to be a high-octane game," Purnell said. "We like it that way, but they do too."

Missouri might have an advantage in a game of extra possessions.

Missouri's guards handle the ball well, and the Big XII Tigers are second in the country in turnover margin (+6.7). Clemson ranks 36th at plus 2.6.

Scoring struggles

Both teams own the same offensive proficiency, averaging 1.25 points per shot.

Clemson's offense suffers scoring droughts and so does Missouri, which is shooting a paltry 36.4 percent in its last four games.

Clemson is a better shooting team from the field (45.3 percent vs. 44.1 percent).

Missouri coach Mike Anderson is particularly concerned about keeping Clemson off the offensive glass. Clemson is a slightly better rebounding team averaging (36.7 rebounds per game versus 35.4 for Missouri).

In a close game, Missouri might have a significant edge. It shoots free throws at a 73 percent clip, versus Clemson's 66 percent mark.

Missouri is also a better 3-point shooting team, shooting 37 percent from 3, versus Clemson's 33.6 percentage.

Surging then slumping

Both teams are 6-4 in their last 10 games, but both teams are coming off first-round losses in their conference championships.

Both coaches know the matchup's star

Clemson has something Missouri does not, a clear-cut, go-to star in Booker. Anderson coached Booker during national team tryouts for the World University Games.

Missouri spreads its scoring, what Anderson calls a "committee" approach. Sophomore guard Kim English scores a Missouri-best 14.1 points per game.

Missouri has the experience edge

Where the similarities end is in regard to postseason success.

Last season, Missouri advanced to the Elite Eight and Anderson led UAB to the Sweet Sixteen in 2004.

Purnell is 0-6 in the NCAAs and Clemson has lost in back-to-back years in the first round.

"It's going to be interesting," Anderson said. "It's going to be entertaining."

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.om/blogs/tiger_tracks