In a jumbled middle of the pack in the ACC, Clemson has a chance to get back to even at home against Wake Forest.

The Tigers find themselves in a mess of four teams one game above or below the .500 mark in conference play, which includes Virginia (16-3, 3-2), Maryland (12-7, 2-3), Miami (11-7, 2-3) and Clemson (10-9, 2-3).

While the Deacs (11-9, 2-4) aren’t quite there, they have already matched their ACC win total from last season (2) by knocking off Virginia Tech (home) and Boston College (road) with an improved team in year No. 2 under Jeff Bzdelik.

Taking a closer look…

The Matchup

After a 9-4 start, the ACC competition has taken its toll on Wake Forest, losing its last three games by a 26 points per average (two of the three at home), but the Deacs did dominate their last road game, 71-56, at Boston College.

Two Demon Deacons make up the go-to options – junior guard C.J. Harris and forward Travis McKie.

Harris has scored double-digits in every Wake Forest game this season, averaging a team-leading 17.2 points per game, and hitting 49.2 percent of 3-pointers and 81.3 percent of free throws.

Sophomore forward Travis McKie has been more inconsistent, posting 25 points and at least six rebounds in four games this season, but up-and-down more recently, scoring two and three points along with two double-double games in between.

Sophomore point guard Tony Chennault completes Wake’s trio of double-digit scorers (10.7 PPG).

Besides McKie, the Deacs frontcourt is something to watch Saturday, after 7-0 center Ty Walker suffered a concussion on Thursday against Florida State and his status for playing unclear. Walker is second to McKie in rebounds per game (5.6), but not as much of a scoring threat (4.6 PPG).

The Tigers triumphed in their last matchup with Wake Forest, holding them to 34 percent shooting in a 63-49 win last season. The Deacs have scored 55 points or less five times this season, while Clemson has stifled teams to that number or worse four times.

Clemson has to hope the week off doesn’t cool Andre Young after a career-high 29 points with seven 3-pointers in the 64-62 win over Georgia Tech last week. He has averaged 15.8 points with 13 3-pointers in ACC play (39.3 3-point percentage).

In the paint, Milton Jennings is the Tigers’ most consistent threat through five games of ACC play, scoring 11.6 points and grabbing six rebounds per game. Devin Booker has posted most rebounds (6.2), but not double-figure scoring (8.4) and his rebound numbers are boosted by 13 in the 73-66 loss to Duke.

Stats to Watch

• Perimeter shooting – Clemson’s ACC opponents have hit more 3-pointers than the Tigers in every game so far, and two have had players hit four or more (Miami’s Malcolm Grant and Duke’s Andre Dawkins).

• Points per possession – One of the main characteristics to Clemson’s style is a slower pace, because they want to pass around in the motion offense to get the best shots possible – valuing each possession. Through five ACC games, the Tigers fall third in the ACC in points per possession (1.008), and on the season, are holding opponents to 0.909 per (41st nationally). In conference play, Wake Forest hasn’t scored more than a point a possession yet, but are 5-1 when they reach the mark on the season. While they allowed above a point per in every ACC game, the Deacs are 8-1 when forcing sub-1.000 per possession (Clemson is 9-2).

• Free Throw Rate - Wake Forest shoots 71.9 percent from the line, and Clemson 67.7 overall on the season, but the Deacs tend to get to the line more. They have a 43.6 percent free throw rate to the Tigers’ 33.6 of shots from the charity stripe to regular field goal attempts.

Prediction

Clemson 66 Wake Forest 58