Clemson Game Information (Tuesday, Nov. 6 – 7 p.m. – Clemson, S.C.)
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CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel men's basketball team opens the 2018-19 campaign on the road at No. 22 Clemson on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
LEADING THE NATION IN 3-POINTERS
Over the last three seasons, The Citadel has been the top 3-point shooting team in the country, converting 1,146 treys in that span. That is 66 more than Akron, the team with the second most 3-pointers over the last three seasons.
NAJDAWI NAMED PRESEASON ALL-SOCON
Senior forward
Zane Najdawi was tabbed to the 2018 Preseason All-Southern Conference Team. Najdawi is coming off a breakout junior season that saw him earn First-Team All-SoCon honors from both the media and coaches after he became just the 27th player in SoCon history, and second player in program history, to eclipse 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks for his career. He is just the fourth player in program history to earn first-team honors from both the media and coaches, and was named to the NABC All-District 22 First Team. He also garnered SoCon Player of the Week honors twice (Jan. 15 & Feb. 6) and was tabbed the College Sports Madness SoCon Player of the Week on Jan. 14. He enters his final year of eligibility 18th in program history for points scored in a career (1,206) and third for blocked shots (140). Last year, he averaged 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game overall and 19.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per SoCon game. He finished the year shooting 51.3 percent from the field, which was second in the league, and ended the season in the top 20 in the conference in six other statistical categories, including third in scoring, fourth in both blocks per game and total blocks, 11th in free throw percentage, 14th in defensive rebounds per game and 17th in rebounding.
BAUCOM IN THE RECORD BOOK
Head coach
Duggar Baucom is the first coach in program history to improve his Southern Conference record in each of the first three seasons at the helm, and is just the fifth coach in program history to post double-digit wins in each of his first three seasons. During the 2017-18 season, he became the first head coach to notch a win in the SoCon Tournament in back-to-back seasons, and his 33 wins through his first three years in Charleston are tied with Ed Conroy and George Hill for third-most wins through the first three campaigns for a head coach.
FRIERSON, GEORGIADIS, NAJDAWI ALL GAIN EXPERIENCE OVERSEAS
Seniors
Matt Frierson and Najdawi, and freshman
Dimitri Georgiadis all took separate trips overseas to expand their basketball talents over the summer. Frierson competed in East Asia with the U.S.A. Eagles Basketball team, while Najdawi trained with the Jordanian National Team as the team competed in the 2019 Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) World Cup qualifiers. Georgiadis played for the Romanian U20 team after playing with the U18 team, while averaging 15.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in 2017.
BEFORE EMBRACE THE PACE, THERE WAS URBANUS
NCAA.com's
Daniel Wilco compiled a list of the top 77 3-point shooters this century (2000s). Citadel great
Zach Urbanus (2007-11) checks in at No. 59 on the list, a list that features Wofford's
Fletcher Magee (No. 9), Duke's
J.J. Redick (No. 10) and Davidson's
Steph Curry (No. 15), just to name a few. Urbanus holds the program record for 3-pointers made with 295, is 4th all time in program history with a .421 career 3-point percentage, and is tied for 10th all time with 1,321 career points.
RECORD CHASING
Seniors Najdawi, Frierson and
Quayson Williams all find themselves rising through the Bulldogs' career records. Najdawi enters the season 18th in career points scored (1,206), ninth in free throws made (301), 12th in defensive rebounds (333), 15th in total rebounds (517) and third in career blocks (140). Frierson and Williams are both in the top-10 for career 3-pointers made and attempted. Frierson is sixth with 220 made treys and fifth with 613 career 3-point attempts. Williams is ninth with 165 career made 3-pointers and 10th with 474 career 3-point attempts.
CHASING 1,000
Frierson and Williams are both closing in on 1,000 career points. Frierson enters his final year of eligibility with 786 career points, while Williams has 767 career points. Thirty-three Bulldogs have scored 1,000 career points in the history of the program.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP WITH CLEMSON
The Citadel is 22-61 all-time against Clemson, including 8-41 in Clemson. The Citadel won seven of the first eight meetings, but the Tigers have won the last 15 matchups in the series, with the last Bulldog victory coming on Jan. 6, 1979, 58-56 in Charleston. The Citadel last won in Clemson on Jan. 2, 1969 (73-72). The Bulldogs last faced off against Clemson in the season opener on Nov. 28, 1989, a 71-54 win in Charleston by the Tigers. Tuesday's game will mark just the second time in the series that either team has been ranked. Clemson was last ranked No. 19 in the meeting on Jan. 14, 1981, an 82-58 win by the Tigers in Clemson.
SCOUTING CLEMSON
Last season, Clemson advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, ending the season with a 25-10 overall record, including an 11-7 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Tigers return nine letterwinners from last season, including four starters:
Marcquise Reed,
Shelton Mitchell,
Elijah Thomas and
Aarmir Simms. Reed, Mitchell and Thomas all averaged double-digit points last season, highlighted by Reed's 15.8 points per game, while shooting 43 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from 3-point range. Thomas added 8.1 rebounds per game and shot 56 percent from the field, while swatting away 79 shots. Mitchell is the top returning assist maker with 119 last season, just three more than Reed. Mitchell added 12.2 points per game.
WHERE THE BULLDOGS STOOD IN THE NATION LAST SEASON
The Citadel ended last season ranked inside the top-25 in the nation in eight different statistical categories. The Bulldogs were second in 3-pointers made per game (12.06), third in total 3-pointers attempted (1,133), fourth in total 3-point field goals made (386) and steals per game (9.41), and fifth in total steals (301). The 'Dogs were also sixth in turnovers forced per game (16.94), 20th in scoring (82.5 points per game) and 21st in assists per game (16.50).
AGAINST THE BEST IN THE SOCON
Last season, the Bulldogs defeated three teams ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. The Bulldogs defeated fifth-ranked ETSU, 84-82, on the road on Feb. 20, 17th-ranked Wofford, 80-78, on Feb. 1 and 19th-ranked Furman, 100-92, in overtime on Feb. 3. The 'Dogs have increased their SoCon win total in each of the last three years under Baucom and staff and won a game in the SoCon Championships in back-to-back years under the same head coach for the first time in program history.
ECLIPSING THE CENTURY MARK
With 103 points at Samford last season on Feb. 10, 2018, the Bulldogs moved to 14-3 under Baucom when scoring at least 100 points, including 5-1 last season. The Citadel posted two 100-point performances during the 2015-16 season and went 7-2 in 2016-17 when eclipsing the century mark.
THE STREAK CONTINUES
With his three 3-pointers in the Bulldogs' final game of the 2017-18 season, a 72-58 loss to top-seeded UNCG in the quarterfinal round of the Southern Conference Basketball Championships, Frierson enters the 2018-19 season having converted at least one 3-pointer in 38 consecutive games.
SETTING THE SINGLE SEASON RECORD
Last season, Frierson set the program record for 3-pointers made in a season with 114 treys. Twelve more than the previous mark set by Travis Cantrell during the 2001-02 campaign.
FRIERSON NATIONALLY
Frierson ended his junior season sixth in NCAA Division I for both 3-pointers attempted (314) and 3-pointers made per game (3.56), and he was 11th with 114 total treys made.
SEASON TICKETS AND MINI PLANS ON SALE
Season tickets, mini plans and single game tickets are currently on sale for the 2018-19 Citadel men's basketball home games. The entire season, featuring 15 games inside McAlister Field House, can be purchased for $150, or $340 for courtside. Fans can also purchase mini plans and choose six home games to attend for $72. Single game tickets are $15.
Faculty and staff of The Citadel, as well as recent Citadel graduates (2013-18), are entitled to discounted season tickets. Fans can also join The Citadel Basketball Association (CBA) to receive discounts and additional perks while supporting the program.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the ticket office located inside McAlister Field House or by calling (843) 953-DOGS (3647). Fans can also get more information online at this link:
CLICK HERE. Hours for the ticket office are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information on The Citadel basketball team, please visit CitadelSports.com and follow @CitadelHoops and @CitadelSports on Twitter and Instagram.