Clemson basketball was once comfortably in the NCAA Tournament picture, eyeing a solid No. 5 or No. 6 seed. But college basketball can be unforgiving, and a week can change everything. Four losses later, the Tigers find themselves in a precarious position.
After a tough 70-65 defeat to Florida State, Clemson (20-8, 10-5 ACC) is flirting with danger. The numbers tell the story: It took 24 games to accumulate four losses, but only 10 days to double that tally.
While the Tigers still hold a decent position at No. 32 in the NET rankings, with a 90% chance of making the tournament, their once-secure status is now in question. To avoid a nail-biting Selection Sunday, Clemson needs to win at least two of their final three regular-season games.
However, the path ahead is anything but easy:
- Feb. 28: vs. No.
21 Louisville (Littlejohn Coliseum)
- March 3: at North Carolina (Chapel Hill)
- March 7: vs. Georgia Tech (Littlejohn Coliseum)
Securing two victories here would likely cement their tournament bid before the ACC Tournament kicks off. On the flip side, going 1-2 or 0-3, especially with a loss to last-place Georgia Tech, could leave Clemson’s fate to the selection committee or force them into a deep ACC Tournament run.
The recent skid has also dashed hopes for a double-bye in the ACC Tournament. With Duke and Virginia locking down the top spots, Miami and NC State have leapfrogged Clemson, holding an advantage in the standings. Clemson could still climb back if NC State falters against tough opponents like Virginia and Duke, but they no longer control their own destiny for a favorable tournament start.
Despite the recent downturn, the metrics still favor Brad Brownell’s squad. Sitting at No. 32 in the NET, Clemson remains a quality team in the eyes of the selection committee. Early wins over Georgia and Alabama bolster their resume, but the committee is notoriously wary of teams that stumble into March.
With a week to regroup before facing No. 21 Louisville, Clemson stands at a pivotal moment in their season. They need to find their spark again, or they might end up watching the tournament from home.