Clemson Men's Basketball beat Pitt, pull into tie for 4th place in ACC

Clemson Men’s Basketball has assembled a strong resume for the NCAA Tournament, but seeding in the ACC Tournament is based on conference record alone. To secure the coveted double-bye, the Tigers were in a position where they would need to win their last four games to reach the fourth seed.

The Tigers started that stretch last night with a 69-62 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers, one of the other programs that are in the hunt for the fourth and final double-bye. Pitt started the game hot and built an early lead, but Clemson was able to pull within 4 points by halftime. From there the game was neck and neck until late when Clemson was able to extend its lead and get some breathing room.

Two Tigers registered double-doubles. Ian Schieffelin had 15 points and 12 rebounds and PJ Hall had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The most critical performance of the night probably came on the defensive end by Jack Clark, who drew the assignment of guarding Panthers’ star forward Blake Hinson, who finished with only 6 points on 2 for 9 shooting. Clark also snagged 9 rebounds.

Schieffelin, Hall, and Clark accounted for 33 of Clemson’s 39 rebounds during the game.

The win places Clemson in a tie for fourth place in the ACC with Wake Forest at 10-7 in the conference. Syracuse (who the Tigers play next week) is at 10-8 and Pitt, Florida State, and NC State are all at 9-8.

The Tigers are now 24th in the KenPom rankings (the NET has not been updated as of publishing).

Clemson will next travel to South Bend, Indiana to challenge the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Irish are having a difficult year but did defeat Wake Forest last night, so they have been showing improved form of late.