Clemson is stepping into March Madness with determination as the No. 8 seed, ready to face No. 9 Iowa in the first round.
This matchup is set for March 20 at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. The stakes are high, with the winner advancing to face either No. 1 seed Florida or the winner of Prairie View/Lehigh.
Clemson's journey to the tournament has been marked by resilience. Despite significant roster changes under coach Brad Brownell, including the addition of four freshmen and six transfers, the Tigers managed to finish tied for fourth in the ACC standings and reached the conference tournament semifinals.
Now, they aim to avoid a repeat of last year's first-round upset when they were taken down by No. 12 McNeese State.
The Tigers face a formidable opponent in Iowa, who enters the tournament under new coach Ben McCollum. The Hawkeyes, finishing ninth in the Big Ten, have a strong defensive focus, allowing just 66.0 points per game, ranking them 17th nationally. However, they've struggled recently, losing seven of their last ten games and haven't advanced past the first round since 2021.
A major storyline for Clemson is the loss of starting center Carter Welling, who tore his ACL during the ACC Tournament. Welling's absence is significant, as he was a key player, contributing 10.2 points per game and leading the team in rebounds and blocks. The Tigers will need to step up their rebounding efforts, especially from their guards, to compensate for his loss.
Despite these challenges, Clemson is confident. Coach Brownell emphasizes that each season brings new opportunities, and with no players from last year's upset on this roster, the team is ready to forge a new path. The Tigers showed resilience in the ACC Tournament, performing well against UNC even without Welling, though they did feel his absence against Duke.
Iowa, meanwhile, is led by senior guard Bennett Stirtz, a standout player projected to go in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Stirtz averages 20 points per game, placing him sixth in the Big Ten. His leadership will be crucial if Iowa hopes to overcome their late-season struggles and advance.
As for the game prediction, expect a tight contest. Clemson is predicted to edge out Iowa with a 68-63 victory, advancing to the second round. Both teams are expected to keep it close, but a strong second-half push from the Tigers could be the deciding factor.