Clemson basketball is rewriting its story under Brad Brownell, challenging the notion that it's just a "football school." With the Tigers on the brink of three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight run two years ago, it's clear they're making waves.
Brownell, once under scrutiny from some fans, is now recognized as one of 15 coaches on the Naismith Coach of the Year watch list. This comes a year after he was rumored to be a candidate at Indiana, a school known for basketball, which recently claimed a national title in football.
As Clemson heads to Charlotte for the ACC Tournament, their history in the tourney hasn't been stellar. They haven't won more than one game since 2008 and have never clinched a league tourney title since its inception in 1953. However, Brownell believes these stats don't tell the whole story.
“We made the semifinals last year,” Brownell pointed out before the Tigers' trip to the Spectrum Center. “I think we sometimes get overlooked on some things.”
Last year, as a No. 3 seed, Clemson bypassed the first two rounds, edging SMU by three points before falling to Louisville in the semis after Dillon Hunter's injury.
In 2024, they stumbled in their opener against Boston College, suffering a 21-point loss. Yet, they redeemed themselves with a strong NCAA Tournament run.
This year's ACC bracket isn't any kinder. As the No. 5 seed, Clemson (22-9, 12-6 ACC) faces either No.
12 Virginia Tech or No. 13 Wake Forest, two teams they couldn't conquer in the regular season, in a late-night matchup on March 11.
A win would pit them against No. 4 North Carolina, who recently edged Clemson 67-63. Should they defy recent history and win two games, a showdown with No. 1 seed Duke, who delivered Clemson's biggest loss of the season, awaits.
Brownell acknowledges the challenge, attributing it to the league's quality. “It speaks to the quality of the league, No. 1,” he said, noting Wake Forest's narrow loss to No. 3 Michigan and Virginia Tech's dominance over Wake Forest.
Despite the tough road, Clemson's tournament hopes aren't solely tied to this performance. The ACC's strength this season suggests a strong presence in the NCAA field, with Clemson at No. 36 in the NET rankings, the NCAA's selection tool.
Virginia Tech, at No. 53, and Wake Forest, at No. 64, present formidable but beatable challenges. On a neutral floor, these are Quad 2 games, just a notch below the top-tier Quad 1.
Clemson aims to build confidence as they head into March Madness. After a four-game skid, they regained momentum with a victory over ranked Louisville, a close loss to UNC, and a thrilling win over Georgia Tech.
“We're still not shooting as well as we probably need to advance deep in the tournament,” Brownell admitted. “I think you gotta play at a really high level.”
Defense will be crucial, especially since the Tigers struggled against Wake Forest and Virginia Tech, allowing them to shoot 63 percent in the first halves of their February matchups.
“Certainly some of that's a credit to them and the way those guys played,” Brownell said. “Defending will be important - but it will be important for our team, regardless.”
Whether Clemson plays one game or four in Charlotte, their focus remains on peaking before the NCAA Tournament.
“We're still trying to win an ACC Tournament at some point here, and this is certainly a challenging draw,” Brownell said. “But just take it one game at a time and try to win the next game. Build confidence throughout the tournament.”
Momentum and confidence are key as the Tigers aim to extend their stay in the ACC tourney and prepare for the Big Dance.