Clemson basketball is playing like a March team again.
After a perfect start to ACC play and a string of convincing wins, the Tigers are projected as a No. 6 seed in USA TODAY Sports’ first NCAA Tournament bracketology, released Thursday. It’s an early snapshot, but one that reflects how quickly Clemson’s résumé is strengthening in January.
Clemson improved to 15-3 overall and 5-0 in the ACC with a commanding 74-50 win over Boston College on Tuesday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. Senior Nick Davidson carried the offense, scoring 25 points — including 21 straight during a decisive stretch — as the Tigers erased an early deficit and pulled away before halftime.
RJ Godfrey and Carter Welling each added 10 points and eight rebounds, while Clemson’s defense smothered Boston College leading scorer Donald Hand Jr., holding him scoreless in 31 minutes.
The performance followed a 15-point road win at Notre Dame and a 74-70 home victory over No. 24 SMU, giving Clemson multiple résumé-building results before mid-January. Entering Thursday, the Tigers ranked No. 26 in the NET and No. 28 at KenPom, continuing a steady climb in both metrics.
USA TODAY Sports analysts Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith and Eddie Timanus currently project Clemson as a No. 6 seed that would face No. 11 seed Miami (Ohio) in a first-round matchup in Oklahoma City.
Clemson was a No. 5 seed last season but suffered an early exit. Two years ago, the Tigers reached the Elite Eight as a No. 6 seed, their deepest NCAA Tournament run since 1980.
Now, Clemson is positioned to chase something the program has never done under Brad Brownell: reach the NCAA Tournament in three consecutive seasons. The Tigers entered the national rankings this week, checking in at No. 21 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and No. 22 in the AP Top 25.