Raleigh, NC- Clemson is in the midst of a crucial stretch as they fight for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. With a record of 20-8 overall and 12-5 in the ACC, they currently sit just outside of the tournament field as one of the “Next Four Out.” Their upcoming matchup against NC State, who is ranked as high as No. 24 nationally, is a must-win game if they hope to keep their postseason dreams alive.
Clemson’s Current Situation: The Tigers currently hold a No. 76 NET ranking in the NCAA’s resume tool. While they have a 3-3 record against top-tier NET teams, they have an 8-2 record against NET Quadrant 4 lower-tier squads. Clemson set a new program record with 12 conference wins in their victory over Syracuse, surpassing the previous record of 11 set in 1951-52 and 2017-18. They also won their 20th game, marking the third time in the last six seasons that Clemson has reached the 20-win milestone.
NC State’s Strengths: The NC State Wolfpack are currently rated 39th overall in KenPom’s assessment, with a No. 30-rated offense and No. 63-rated defense. This makes them a formidable opponent for the Tigers, who are ranked lower in both categories at No. 89 and No. 70, respectively. ESPN’s BPI formula currently projects NC State to win with a 75.6% win probability. NC State is 51-15 all-time against the Tigers in Raleigh.
Hunter Tyson’s Impressive Stats: Hunter Tyson has been a standout player for Clemson this season and is making a case for ACC Player of the Year. He has recorded 13 double-doubles, which is 14th in the nation and second in the ACC. Tyson is also leading the ACC in defensive rebounding per game (8.00) and is fourth nationally in total rebounds (263). He has scored seven 20-point games and one 30-point game, and he posted a career-high 31 points and 15 rebounds in the Tigers’ previous win over NC State in December 2021.
Clemson’s Recent Success Against NC State: Clemson trails in the all-time series against NC State, but Head Coach Brad Brownell has a winning record of 12-10 against them. The Tigers have also won four straight against the Wolfpack and five out of the last six matchups. This recent success against NC State should give the Tigers confidence going into this important game.
Clemson’s Record-Breaking Game Against Syracuse: In their previous game against Syracuse, Clemson set a new program record with 12 conference wins. They also had a standout performance with 28 assists in the game, the most in a game during the Brad Brownell Era at Clemson. Chase Hunter had a double-double with 11 assists and 13 points, which was the most assists in a game since 2005.
Clemson’s Dominance Against ACC Opponents: Clemson has been impressive this season against ACC opponents, with three home-and-home sweeps of Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Florida State. They have also won one-off matchups with Duke, Pitt, and Syracuse. This dominance against ACC teams bodes well for their chances in the upcoming tournament.
