Clemson trying to solve its scoring woes

CLEMSON -- Oliver Purnell was asked Tuesday if he has had to resist leaning on the Tigers' hot hand in hopes of thawing the offensive deep freeze.

The perplexed Clemson coach asked: "Well, who would that be?"

Clemson (16-6, 4-5 ACC) has lost four of its last five games due to widespread offensive failings.

The anemic Clemson offense -- second to last in field goal percentage and scoring in ACC play -- meets the league's best defense tonight at Littlejohn Coliseum.

The Seminoles are tops in blocks (6.7), field-goal percentage defense (36.8) and second in scoring defense (61.1 ppg) in conference play. The Tigers have failed to break 31.9 percent shooting in their last two games.

"It's an imposing front line," Purnell said. "In their team defense they are awfully hard to score on, and right now with us struggling offensively it really is a challenge for us."

The Seminoles (17-6, 5-4) possess the tallest front line in the league, highlighted by 7-1 center Solomon Alabi and 6-9 small forward Chris Singleton. The pair rank second and fifth in the ACC in blocks respectively.

Purnell concedes that the Tigers have struggled to convert open shots in addition to poor shot selections at times.

That's especially troubling for Clemson tonight as some of those wide-open looks might disappear as Alabi has the size to bother Trevor Booker in one-on-one situations. The majority of opponents have consistently double-teamed Booker, daring Clemson's guards to beat them from the perimeter. And Booker -- who Purnell said has to run the floor with more urgency -- has been held to point totals of 12, 10 and 7 in Clemson's last three games.

Despite all those open looks, and Booker's exceptional passing ability, Clemson is shooting just 25.6 percent from 3 in ACC play.

It's the worst mark in the ACC.

"We are really going to have to move the ball and move them defensively," Clemson wing Tanner Smith said. "We can't allow them to be stationary and play in spots and be able to close off driving lanes."

Making matters worse is point guard and second-leading scorer Demontez Stitt is still not 100 percent.

Purnell believes Stitt was just shaking off some rust during a 3-point, 1 of 6 shooting effort in his return from a mid-foot sprain at Virginia Tech.

But Stitt said Tuesday he is not getting the "lift" he normally does, and he can't cut as sharply as he would at full health.

The junior said he will have to alter his offensive game: more jump shots, fewer fearless drives to the basket.

Purnell hopes the team plays with similar defensive energy as it did in its home win against Maryland. But Clemson shot 31.9 percent from the floor in that game, which Purnell acknowledges is not a sustainable formula for victory.

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Clemson Tigers

The Tigers are running out of time to fix their offense.

In the period of three weeks, the Tigers have gone from entertaining thoughts of contending for an ACC crown, to just hoping they can hang on for a third consecutive NCAA bid.

Clemson begins a three-game home stretch tonight, which the team acknowledges is nearing must-win territory. Following the home stand, the Tigers have three difficult road trips remaining: at Maryland, at Florida State and at Wake Forest.

From the ACC, only Maryland made the NCAA Tournament last season with a losing conference mark.

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