Clemson walked into Cameron Indoor knowing nothing would come easy, and the first twenty minutes proved exactly that. The Tigers head into halftime trailing Duke 31-26 in a physical, grind-it-out opening half that featured cold shooting, heavy defensive pressure, and brief scoring runs on both sides. With Clemson still within striking distance, a handful of key trends have defined how this game has unfolded so far.
1) RJ Godfrey’s aggression is keeping Clemson in the game
When Clemson’s perimeter shots aren’t falling, someone has to manufacture offense. That someone has been RJ Godfrey. The senior forward has attacked downhill with purpose, absorbing contact, finishing through traffic, and forcing Duke’s defense to collapse around him. His willingness to put his head down and play through bodies has produced some of the Tigers’ most dependable looks, giving Clemson a steady pulse offensively in a half where rhythm has been hard to find.
Advertisement
Godfrey’s physicality has also set a tone. While Duke has controlled stretches with length and ball pressure, Godfrey’s interior presence has prevented the game from slipping away, keeping Clemson within striking distance by turning effort into points.
2) Clemson’s defense is giving up a lot of three-point opportunities
The Tigers are giving Duke too many clean looks from the perimeter. The Blue Devils have already put up eighteen three-point attempts in the first half alone. That kind of volume is dangerous against a team with this much shooting talent.
Even though Duke is sitting at six of eighteen from beyond the arc, the opportunity count is the red flag. Clemson cannot allow that many rhythm threes and expect to survive for forty minutes. For context, that is more three-point attempts than Clemson allowed in the entire Virginia Tech loss, and only a handful shy of what NC State took in the overtime game, which ended 80-76 NC State.
Advertisement
If Duke continues to generate open perimeter looks, eventually those shots will start falling at a higher clip. Clemson has to tighten closeouts and shrink the space on the wings in the second half.
3) Duke’s Defense Is Forcing Clemson Into Perimeter Struggles
Clemson’s outside shooting has been a problem, and Duke deserves real credit for it. The Tigers are just one of nine from three in the first half, with the Blue Devils flying out on shooters, switching cleanly, and taking away rhythm looks.
At the same time, Clemson has not helped itself. Several perimeter attempts have come too late on the shot clock or off balance, turning possessions into quick empty trips. Duke’s pressure is speeding Clemson up, and the Tigers are settling instead of hunting paint touches and kick outs.
If Clemson wants its offense to open up in the second half, it starts with better shot selection and forcing Duke’s defense to collapse before launching from deep.
Advertisement
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Three takeaways as Clemson down five at halftime at Cameron Indoor
