The Clemson Tigers just wrapped up a statement week out west, and they’re coming back to ACC country with some serious momentum-and a pair of Quad 1 wins to show for it.
It started with a nail-biter in Palo Alto, where Clemson edged out Stanford, 66-64, in a gritty road win that came down to the wire. Nick Davidson played the closer’s role to perfection, sinking two clutch free throws with 24 seconds left and finishing with 16 points and seven boards. That kind of poise in crunch time is the hallmark of a team that’s built for March.
Three days later, in Berkeley, the Tigers left no doubt. Clemson absolutely blitzed Cal with a 23-1 run that turned a tight early contest into a 19-point halftime cushion.
By the final buzzer, it was a 77-55 rout. Ace Buckner and RJ Godfrey led the way with 13 points apiece, while Jake Wahlin and Carter Welling each chipped in 11.
It was the kind of balanced, dominant performance that shows just how deep and dangerous this Tigers roster can be.
With those two wins, Clemson improved to 20-4 overall and 10-1 in ACC play-good enough to pull even with Duke atop the conference standings heading into Week 15. And with the Blue Devils falling at the buzzer to North Carolina in Chapel Hill, the timing couldn’t be better for Clemson, who now controls its own destiny in the ACC title race.
The Tigers will host Virginia Tech midweek before heading into a massive showdown at Duke on Saturday. First-place implications, national attention, and the kind of environment that separates contenders from pretenders-Cameron Indoor will be rocking.
Clemson’s recent surge hasn’t gone unnoticed in the polls. The Tigers are up to No. 18 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the AP Top 25. But more importantly, they’re climbing the rankings that matter most come Selection Sunday.
After the win over Cal, Clemson jumped to No. 30 in the NCAA’s NET rankings, leapfrogging Auburn and now sitting just behind Saint Mary’s. The Tigers’ resume is looking stronger by the week:
- Quad 1 record: 4-3
- Quad 2 record: 6-1
- Quad 3 & 4 record: A perfect 10-0
Among those Quad 1 wins: a wild 97-94 overtime victory over Georgia back in November, a gritty road win at Syracuse on New Year’s Eve, and now the back-to-back West Coast triumphs over Stanford and Cal.
Their Quad 2 wins include road victories at Pitt and Notre Dame, home wins over SMU and Miami, and neutral-site wins over West Virginia and Cincinnati. That’s a well-rounded resume with quality wins in every context-home, away, and neutral.
Metrics-wise, Clemson is trending in the right direction. The Tigers climbed four spots to No. 28 in the latest KenPom ratings.
Their overall rating is now +22.05, up from +20.70 a week ago. Defensively, they’re locking in-KenPom has them ranked 13th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency (94.6), while their offense is up to 67th (116.7).
That defensive ranking is no fluke. Clemson’s ability to clamp down, especially in key stretches, has been a defining trait all season. And when the offense is clicking-like it was during that 23-1 run against Cal-they can bury teams in a hurry.
Looking ahead, the Tigers have seven regular-season games left before heading to the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. Here’s what’s on deck:
- Feb. 11: vs. Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.
ET (ACC Network)
- Feb. 14: at Duke, Noon ET (ESPN)
- Feb. 18: at Wake Forest, 7 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
- Feb. 21: vs. Florida State, Noon ET (The CW)
- Feb. 28: vs. Louisville, TBD
- March 3: at North Carolina, 7 p.m. ET
- March 7: vs. Georgia Tech, Noon ET (ACC Network)
With the way Clemson is playing-13 wins in their last 14 games-they're not just chasing an ACC title. They’re building a case for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. And if they keep stacking wins like this, they’ll be one of the teams nobody wants to see come March.