One could look at Clemson's quick turnaround after beating No. 2 Duke on Saturday in different ways. Does playing North Carolina in Littlejohn Coliseum tonight, only two days after the biggest win of the season, help the Tigers because it lets them capitalize on the momentum gained this weekend, or does the brief time between games make it harder for head coach Brad Brownell to get his team focused on the Tar Heels rather than reveling in the glory of Saturday's accomplishment?
The good news is that the Tigers have a veteran team with strong leadership. Therefore, maturity is not an issue in the locker room.
Still, this Saturday-to-Monday turnaround will be a new test for Clemson this season. However, it could be a valuable learning experience.
In the NCAA Tournament, teams sometimes have only one day in between games making it tough to block out all of the noise and prepare for the next challenge ahead. Therefore, this Duke-North Carolina set of home games will mimic what Clemson might face in March.
Of course, some of the key contributors on this year's team were part of a successful Elite Eight run last year that twice saw the Tigers play huge games after just a one-day layoff. Hopefully, that experience will be useful tonight when another college basketball blue blood comes calling.
Though the name on their Carolina blue jerseys still reads "North Carolina", this isn't a typical Tar Heel squad. After starting the season ranked No. 9 in the country, head coach Hubert Davis' team has struggled to just a 14-10 overall record, one that includes a mark of 7-5 in the ACC.
This year, UNC has played a rugged schedule, as always. In the non-conference portion of the season, they faced Alabama, Kansas, Michigan State, UCLA, Auburn, and Florida and of those six games, they won just one (against UCLA).
Since the start of the ACC season, they have been an up-and-down proposition. After a loss at Louisville to open the league season, they rattled off four wins in a row.
However, they have since fallen on hard times losing four of their last six games. On the other hand, the Heels enter tonight riding some momentum after beating Pitt 67-66 on Saturday in Chapel Hill thanks to a late jumper in the closing moments.
That win is arguably their best in conference play and one has to wonder if they will be feeling and playing their best tonight as a result. What's more, UNC is squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble meaning they are likely to be the desperate team when they face Clemson. This is a rare ACC Quad-1 opportunity for North Carolina and they would be well-served to take advantage.
As for the Tigers, they need to back up their victory over Duke with another win over a name-brand program tonight. Though this won't be a ranked or even a Quad-1 win, it would further legitimize the Tigers in the minds of many across the country, including the tournament selection committee. Though the Tar Heels are not a national contender this season, they are still a program that draws plenty of attention so Clemson will have another home showcase game this evening.
After Saturday's eye-opening win, Clemson basketball is as hot as it has been all season so fans will be by the television tonight to see if Brownell and Co. can keep the party going. With that in mind, here's all the information fans need ahead of another home game against one of college basketball's most famous programs.
Clemson vs. North Carolina broadcast information
TV: ESPN (Dave O'Brien and Cory Alexander)
Radio: Clemson Athletic Network (Don Munson, Tim Bourret Ben Milstead)
Clemson Radio Affiliates: WCCP 105.5 The ROAR (Flagship)
SiriusXM: Ch. 84, and on the SiriusXM App
Clemson vs. North Carolina series history
Overall: Clemson trails 24-136
In Clemson: Clemson trails 18-41
In Chapel Hill: Clemson trails 2-60
At neutral sites: Clemson trails 4-34
Current streak: Clemson, 1
Coach Brownell vs. North Carolina: 4-16
Clemson vs. North Carolina odds
Odds courtesy of FanDuel.com.
Favorite | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|
Clemson -5.5 | North Carolina +190 | 144.5 |
Clemson vs. North Carolina game notes
Notes courtesy of ClemsonTigers.com.
- When Clemson defeated No. 2 Duke on Feb. 8, 2025, it gave the Tigers two wins over Top 5 teams this year. This is just the fifth time Clemson has defeated at least two Top 5 teams (either poll) in the same year, and two of the times have taken place under Head Coach Brad Brownell. Bill Foster coached Clemson teams did it three times in the 1970's.
- Earlier this year Clemson beat No. 4 (AP) Kentucky 70-66 at Littlejohn Coliseum and downed No. 2 Duke on Feb. 8 by a score of 77-71. This is the first time Clemson has beaten two Top 5 teams in the same year since 2019-20 when the Tigers defeated No. 3 Duke and No. 5 Louisville. Prior to that, you have to go back to 1979-80.
- Head Coach Brad Brownell recorded his fifth win over a Top 5 team when the Tigers defeated Duke on Feb. 8, 2025. It was his fifth Top 5 win since 2019-20 and his fifth consecutive Top 5 win, tied for the third-longest streak by any program since at least 1996-97.
- Brownell is now second in Clemson history in career Top 5 wins, trailing only Bill Foster, who had eight Top 5 wins between 1975-84. Other Clemson head coaches to record top 5 wins are Cliff Ellis (3), Tates Locke (2), Larry Shyatt (2), Rick Barnes (1), Bobby Roberts (1), and Oliver Purnell (1).
- Clemson will try to accomplish something the program has never done when the Tigers face North Carolina on Monday night Feb 10. So far this year the Tigers are 3-0 against the ACC’s North Carolina schools, victories over Wake Forest, NC State, and Duke. A victory over North Carolina on Monday would give Clemson an unblemished 4-0 slate against those schools this year.