Clemson Sophomore K.J. McDaniels Paces Clemson to a Win Over Georgia Tech

With February right around the corner, the Clemson Tigers are facing increased pressure to win and win often if they hope to have any chance at making the postseason.

At 12-8 overall and 4-4 within the ACC, the Tigers’ resume does not necessarily jump out at anybody. Following a 63-60 victory over Georgia Tech on Tuesday night, Clemson moved up to .500 within the conference with their second consecutive win. The Tigers will have the opportunity to extend that streak to a season-high three this upcoming weekend when they make a trip to Boston College.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Tigers this season, one of their emerging bright spots on the court has been the production of sophomore forward, K.J. McDaniels. After a sub-par freshman campaign in which he averaged just over ten minutes per contest, McDaniels has made quite the leap in his second year under head coach Brad Brownell.

McDaniels finished with a team-high 15 points on Tuesday night, leading the way for the Tigers on 5-of-11 shooting overall. The contest marked a game that Clemson could not afford to lose at home and McDaniels quickly became the main reason in which the Tigers did just that.

At 6-foot-6, McDaniels continue to find his niche and with his increased production in 2012-13, the hype will undoubtedly follow him in the years to come. Entering Tuesday’s contest McDaniels ranked second on the team, averaging 11.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, so his ability to lead the way in the win over Georgia Tech certainly comes as no surprise to Tigers’ fans.

 

Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS