Virginia Basketball: 3 keys to victory for the Cavaliers against Clemson

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - JANUARY 05: Braxton Key #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers smiles as he comes off the court beside De'Andre Hunter #12 and Kihei Clark #0 in the second half during a game against the Florida State Seminoles at John Paul Jones Arena on January 5, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images /

2. Slow down Marcquise Reed, Shelton Mitchell and Elijah Thomas

The Tigers are a completely different team at home than on the road this season, as noted by their 7-1 record at home. When they are playing well, so are Marcquise Reed, Shelton Mitchell and Elijah Thomas. In victories this season, Reed is averaging 19.9 points per game, Mitchell is producing is 14.5 points per game and Thomas is putting up 13.1 points per game.

Reed, Mitchell and Thomas are a force to be reckoned with at home. Reed is shooting 31.0 percent from 3-point land while Mitchell is shooting 36.1 percent from behind the arc at home. Thomas has nearly been a double-double machine at home this season, averaging 13.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game at home this season. He’s averaging 3.1 fouls per contest also, but his teammates have managed to carry the load in that regard.

The Cavaliers are a different beast altogether and a bigger challenge than their last home loss, the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge back on Nov. 26. Virginia has the advantage on offense in 3-point shooters with Kyle Guy and De’Andre Hunter and playmakers in Ty Jerome and Mamadi Diakite, they’ll just need to turn it into solid defensive efforts on the other end.

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