Winless on the road this season, Georgia Tech has pair of away tests this week

Stoudamire is hopeful his team can take some momentum from upsetting No. 21 Louisville at McCamish Pavilion on Saturday, carry it up I-85 into South Carolina and use it to snap a seven-game road losing streak that dates to last season.

“You felt the energy during the (Louisville) game, but watching it on film it really stuck out,” Stoudamire said. “I thought everybody did a great job. I was happy for those guys to get some payback for some of the things that’s been going on this season.

“Looking to get some carryover against Clemson, but Clemson ain’t messing around. You gotta be ready to fight. Knowing what they got over there, you’re gonna have to come ready to fight.”

Tech’s win over Louisville was its second in a 10-day span in which Stoudamire played seven guys or less. And, truthfully, that win total should be three if not for a late collapse in a loss at Notre Dame on Jan. 28.

Only six Jackets played Saturday in the 77-70 triumph over the Cardinals, and five of those six logged at least 31 minutes. That’s likely the way things will transpire for the near future as guards Kowacie Reeves and Jaeden Mustaf and forward Luke O’Brien continue to slowly work their way back from injuries.

That trio is progressing, and all three recently shed the protective boots they had been wearing on their respective injured foots. But Stoudamire said none of the three are expected to play this week.

“Hopefully we can get one of those (players) back here in the next couple weeks,” he added.

Clemson (18-4, 10-1 ACC) plays three games in the next six days, starting with Tuesday’s tilt against Tech before hosting No. 2 Duke on Saturday and North Carolina on Monday. The Tigers are projected to be an NCAA Tournament team and haven’t lost since Jan. 7 at Louisville.

Part of Clemson’s current win streak was a 70-59 victory at McCamish Pavilion on Jan. 14. Guard Jaeden Zackery scored 21 points in that game and was one of four Tigers in double figures. Tech turned the ball over 14 times and shot only 35% from the floor.

“I think our guys have done a really good job of staying focused on what’s next. We know that Georgia Tech is a really good team. They came in here and beat us last year,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said Monday. “Got a lot of respect for Damon and how they’re playing right now. Those guys are playing extremely well. When you watch the Louisville game, man, their last 20 minutes they played at an extremely high level.

“The first time we played them they didn’t have Lance Terry (because of injury). We know that they’re a very dangerous, capable team. The Georgia Tech that we’re playing right now is certainly much better than the one that was playing in November and December, probably even January. They’re still playing with a ton of juice and energy and got a lot of guys out on the floor that can really hurt you.”

As Tech ventures away from home this week, its results will become magnified as it continues to fight to make the ACC’s postseason tournament in March. The Jackets sit in 14th place in the league standings and are one game ahead of 15th-place Virginia — Tech visits Virginia at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.