Clemson Basketball: What will it take to make the NCAA Tournament?

What will it take for Clemson basketball to make the NCAA Tournament? Here’s a look at the Tigers’ path back to the big dance.

The first part of the conference season didn’t go as most Clemson basketball fans would have hoped.

As a matter of fact, it went about as bad as you could’ve dreamed of.

In the first six games of ACC play, the Tigers went 1-5 with their only win coming at home against Georgia Tech. Clemson lost on the road to Duke, Syracuse, Florida State and NC State, and at home against Virginia.

Now, many Tiger fans are already giving up on the season and beginning the “Fire Brad Brownell” chants. If that’s what you want to do, then there’s not much I can do to convince you of anything otherwise.

But, here’s what I’ll say:

1. The season’s not over
2. The Tigers’ record against this same slate of opponents was the same last year

Look, Clemson basketball lost to these same teams last year and still made the NCAA Tournament. Not only did they make the NCAA Tournament, they made it to the Sweet 16 and were very close to knocking off Kansas.

So, the season isn’t over no matter how much many fans seemingly want it to be.

I’m also not here to tell you that this team looks primed to make the NCAA Tournament right now, either. All I’m here to say is that there is a path and it’s pretty clear. It’s an uphill battle, but nothing is lost as of yet for the Tigers.

Path to the NCAA Tourney…

The path to the NCAA Tournament for Clemson basketball is pretty simple. You just beat Pittsburgh at home to improve to 2-5 in conference play.

To make the tournament, you need to finish 10-8 or you could potentially make it with a 9-9 record and a deep run in the ACC Tournament.

So, a 10-8 record means you need to go 8-3 in the last 11. Because of how the conference schedule is set up, I think it’s helpful to cut it into thirds (basically dividing it into three sets of six games).

In the first six you went 1-5. That means you need to go 5-1 in the next six and 4-2 in the last six, or something of that combination. Here’s a look at Clemson’s schedule with a little win-game.

• vs. Wake Forest (W)
• @ Georgia Tech (W)
• vs. Virginia Tech (L)
• @ Miami (W)
• @ Louisville (L)
• vs. Florida State (W)
• vs. Boston College (W)
• @ Pittsburgh (W)
• vs. UNC (L)
• @ Notre Dame (W)
• vs. Syracuse (W)

That gives the Tigers 10 conference victories. Perhaps you can’t beat a team like Pittsburgh or Notre Dame on the road. If you lose on the road, then it needs to be balanced out with an upset win at home (maybe against a team like Virginia Tech or UNC).

You’ve got to find a way to beat Florida State- a team you competed with on the road- at home, as well as Syracuse.

It’s certainly not an easy path, but there still is one to the tournament. Don’t give up on this team yet, they haven’t stopped fighting.