The “road warriors” are finally getting the respect they deserve from the machines. Once again, the Clemson Tigers (19-4, 9-1 ACC) have their resume metrics up after going 13 straight on an all-time-high road victory against Stanford in a game of 66-64. As mid-February approaches, Brad Brownell’s team isn’t simply a feel-good experience — they are a statistically validated powerhouse.
The Tigers — as of Friday morning — have moved to No. 31 in the updated NET rankings. This places them in the same neighborhood as the Auburn Tigers (No. 30) and Villanova Wildcats (No. 32). Now the Tigers’ resume might appear “lock-heavy” to the NCAA Tournament selection committee. Stanford’s win officially counted as a Quad 2 victory, a major improvement over a Cardinal team that had crushed North Carolina and Virginia at home.
The Résumé Breakdown:
Quad 1: 2-3 (Marquee wins over Georgia and at Syracuse)
Quad 2: 7-1 (Wins at Stanford, Pitt, and Notre Dame; home wins vs. West Virginia and Miami)
Quad 3/4: 10-0 (No “bad” losses on a clean sheet)
The analytic darling KenPom mirrors the NET, placing Clemson at No. 32 overall. The most astonishing takeaway from the numbers is the identity of the team. Where earlier Brownell teams were often famous for systematic offense, this team is a wall. Clemson is 15th nationally in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. These Tigers have proven hard-headed players on defense, with Carter Welling and RJ Godfrey's "Trench Warfare" and Ace Buckner's "sticky" perimeter defense that made the Tigers one of the most miserable teams to score against in the ACC.
The Tigers won’t have too long to admire the rankings. They stay in Northern California to complete their trip to the West Coast, where they face a struggling Cal team next and then move back to the East Coast for a pivotal stretch.