The Clemson basketball team is red-hot right now after winning six games in a row and 12 of its last 13. As a result, the Tigers are playing their way into the conversation for one of the top 16 national seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
To earn that honor, Clemson may have to have win several games in the ACC Tournament, perhaps even reaching at least the semifinals, if not the finals. That's because the weakness of the ACC this year has limited the number of opportunities the Tigers have had to secure all-important Quad-1 wins.
If the Tigers do get one of the 16 highest seeds, they will earn geographic consideration as to where they will be sent for the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. And there is one first/second-round site that would be perfect for Clemson fans.
Potential sites for Clemson in the first and second rounds
There are eight cities hosting games in the first weekend of the tournament. Technically, a ninth city, Dayton, Ohio is also hosting games that week, but those are the "First Four" games featuring teams that barely slide into the Field of 68. That won't be Clemson's story this year, so there is no need to worry about playing in Dayton. Here's a look at the eight cities that Clemson might be sent to in the first weekend.
First/Second Round sites (March 20-23) |
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Lexington, KY |
Providence, RI |
Seattle, WA |
Wichita, KS |
Cleveland, OH |
Denver, CO |
Milwaukee, WI |
Raleigh, NC |
Of course, Clemson fans are hoping to see the Tigers open the tournament in Raleigh. Being only a 4.5-hour drive from Clemson and the only first-weekend location that is drivable, it would be the ideal spot for the Tigers to begin their March Madness run.
Keep in mind that the first and second round sites are no longer tied to specific regions of the tournament as they were for so long. Now, a team in the East Region of the bracket could open in Denver or Seattle, thanks to the pod system that the NCAA enacted several years ago.
Thus, even if Clemson plays in Raleigh, the Tigers might still be in the West, South, or Midwest Region rather than the East. That would come into play should they reach the second weekend of the tournament.
Potential sites for Clemson in the third and fourth rounds
In the second weekend of the tournament, teams are playing for the right to advance to the Final Four. That is where geography can play a huge role, especially for teams palying close to home. Fortunately, there is one regional site right in Clemson's back yard.
Third/Fourth Round Sites (March 27-30) |
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East Regional: Newark, NJ (March 27 & 29) |
West Regional: San Francisco, CA (March 27 & 29) |
South Regional: Atlanta, GA (March 28 & 30) |
Midwest Regional: Indianapolis, IN (March 28 & 30) |
Of course, the Tigers would love to play in Atlanta should they get to the second weekend. That is only a little over a two-hour drive from campus, and it would provide a fantastic opportunity for Tiger fans to gather in Georgia to try to help their school reach the Final Four for the first time.
Where is the 2025 Final Four?
In 2025, the Final Four is returning to Texas. It will be held in San Antonio on Saturday, April 5, with the National Championship Game taking place on Monday, April 7.
In all, four Texas cities have hosted the Final Four. This will be the 11th Final Four to take place in the state, with San Antonio hosting five, Houston hosting four, Dallas hosting three, and Arlington hosting one.
The Final Four was most recently in Texas in 2023 when Houston held the event. It was most recently in San Antonio in 2018. The next time it will be in Texas will be in Arlington in 2030.
Future Final Four sites include Indianapolis (2026), Detroit (2027), Las Vegas (2028), and Indianapolis (2029). Hopefully, the Tigers can play their way to San Antonio this year, though, because Clemson fans would love nothing more than to see their basketball team on the game's biggest stage for the first time.