After the season Clemson had i couldn’t help but think that Clemson had done enough to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers had just dominated NC State in their tournament opener, and head coach Brad Brownell and his players were confident that their resume was strong enough to impress the selection committee.
But when the at-large selections were announced on Selection Sunday, Clemson’s name was nowhere to be found. The Tigers had been left out of the Big Dance for the second straight year, a bitter pill to swallow for a team that had set a program record with 14 ACC wins in the regular season.
Instead, Clemson will likely accept an invitation to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), which will be announced later tonight. While some may view the NIT as a consolation prize, it’s still an opportunity for the Tigers to continue playing and competing for a championship.
But the question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Clemson deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament. The answer, as is often the case with bubble teams, is complicated.
On one hand, the Tigers finished third in the ACC standings, won 68% of their games against conference opponents, and notched four Quad 1 victories. They also went 6-4 against teams that ended up making the NCAA Tournament, including two blowout wins over NC State.
On the other hand, Clemson’s non-conference schedule was lackluster, ranking 315th in the country in terms of difficulty, according to KenPom. The Tigers also suffered four losses against teams in the bottom two quadrants, including a Quad 3 loss to South Carolina and a Quad 4 loss to Louisville.
Ultimately, it seems that the selection committee put more weight on Clemson’s weaknesses than its strengths. While the Tigers were dominant in ACC play, their lack of quality wins outside the conference and their losses to inferior opponents likely sealed their fate.
But while Clemson fans may be disappointed that their team won’t be dancing this year, there’s still plenty to be proud of. The Tigers had a historic regular season, and they proved that they can compete with some of the best teams in the country.
Now, they’ll turn their attention to the NIT and a chance to end the season on a high note. While it may not be the tournament they were hoping for, it’s still an opportunity to showcase their talent and compete for a championship. And who knows? Maybe next year, they’ll be dancing again.
