Clemson Basketball Expectations
Your best source for quality Clemson Tigers news, rumors, analysis, stats, and scores from a fan perspective.
Season Overview
Clemson basketball offers a refreshing break from the struggles of Clemson football. Just a few months ago, few expected this shift in hope. The team aims to improve on its predictions for the season, hoping for better outcomes than football.
Highs of the Season
The highs have been remarkable. Last year, Clemson secured a memorable victory over Cooper Flagg’s Duke Blue Devils at Littlejohn Coliseum. Duke advanced to the Final Four, and Cooper Flagg was the first overall pick in the NBA draft.
The Tigers dominated the ACC regular season with an 18-2 conference record, marking the best performance in school history.
Lows of the Season
However, the season had notable disappointments. Despite the strong 18-2 record, Clemson lost the ACC regular-season title after a triple-overtime loss at home against a struggling Georgia Tech team. They finished behind Duke and tied with Louisville.
In the ACC Tournament, Clemson defeated SMU but was eliminated by Louisville. The season ended with a harsh defeat by McNeese in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64.
McNeese’s coach, Will Wade, a Clemson alumnus now leading NC State, is expected to be a long-term challenge for Clemson basketball.
Summary
Last year balanced historic success in conference play with a disappointing early NCAA exit, resulting in the sole NCAA appearance banner at Littlejohn Coliseum.
"So, last year was simultaneously the most impressive conference performance in school history and also a year where the only banner that’ll hang in Littlejohn is one for a brief NCAA ‘appearance.'"
Author's summary: Clemson basketball showed record-breaking conference success last year but was marred by critical losses, leaving fans hopeful for a stronger NCAA tournament run.