
Clemson University's basketball team, the Clemson Tigers, competes in the NCAA Division I, making it a Division 1 basketball team. The Tigers are a college basketball program that plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Clemson first sponsored a men's basketball team in 1911–12, winning its first conference championship in 1939 and the ACC regular season in 1990. The team has a rich history, with notable coaches and players who have achieved success in the NCAA Tournament and beyond.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Clemson Tigers |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Division | NCAA D1 |
| Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) |
| Home Court | Littlejohn Coliseum |
| City | Clemson |
| State | South Carolina |
| Head Coach | Brad Brownell |
| First Season | 1911-1912 |
| First Coach | Frank Dobson |
| First Conference Championship | 1939 |
| First ACC Regular Season Victory | 1990 |
| Number of NCAA Tournament Appearances | 14 |
| Number of NCAA Sweet 16 Appearances | 5 |
| Number of NCAA Elite 8 Appearances | 2 |
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What You'll Learn
- Clemson Tigers men's basketball team competes in the NCAA Division I
- Brad Brownell is the current Clemson Tigers head coach
- Clemson Tigers first played in 1911-12, winning their first conference championship in 1939
- Clemson Tigers have reached the NCAA tournament 14 times in the modern era
- Clemson Tigers play their home games at Littlejohn Coliseum

Clemson Tigers men's basketball team competes in the NCAA Division I
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team competes in the NCAA Division I, representing Clemson University. The Tigers are a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Clemson first sponsored a men's basketball team in the 1911-12 season, winning its first conference championship in 1939 and the ACC regular season in 1990. The Tigers have reached the NCAA Tournament 14 times in the modern era, advancing to the Sweet 16 five times and the Elite Eight twice.
The Tigers play their home games at Littlejohn Coliseum, where they have won approximately 75% of their games, making it one of the ACC's most challenging road venues. Clemson's current head coach is Brad Brownell, who guided the team to a fourth-place ACC finish and a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance in his first season in 2010.
Clemson's basketball history includes notable achievements such as winning their first seven games, with the brothers John and Frank Erwin scoring a combined 74 points in their second game. John Erwin's 58 points remain a single-game scoring record for the program. The Tigers have had successful periods under coaches like Bill Foster, who led the team to victory over top-ranked opponents, and Cliff Ellis, who became the winningest coach in Clemson basketball history.
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Brad Brownell is the current Clemson Tigers head coach
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that represents Clemson University and competes in the NCAA Division I. Brad Brownell is the current head coach of the Clemson Tigers. He was named the 22nd men's basketball coach at Clemson University on April 13, 2010, and has been in charge for 15 seasons. In his first season, Brownell guided the Tigers to a 4th-place ACC finish and a 2nd-round finish in the NCAA Tournament, setting a record with 22 wins.
Brownell has had a successful tenure at Clemson, leading the Tigers to the 2024 Elite Eight, 2018 Sweet 16, and the 2025, 2021 and 2011 NCAA Tournaments. He is the winningest coach in Clemson history, with 292 victories. He has also achieved the highest winning percentage against ACC competition and the most regular-season wins over ACC teams. Brownell has guided the Tigers to school records in wins, including 27 overall wins and 18 ACC and conference wins.
Prior to his time at Clemson, Brownell held head coaching positions at Wright State and UNC Wilmington. At Wright State, he led the Raiders to their first Horizon League title and a 23-win season, which was a school record. He then took UNC Wilmington to a 25-win season. Brownell's success at Clemson has earned him a contract extension through 2031.
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Clemson Tigers first played in 1911-12, winning their first conference championship in 1939
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a Division I college basketball program representing Clemson University. The team is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Tigers first took to the court in the 1911-12 season, playing their first two games on February 9, 1912, in Greenville, South Carolina. They won both games, defeating Furman 46-12 and then the Butler Guards 78-6 in the same day. John and Frank Erwin were the stars of the second game, scoring 74 points between them. John Erwin's 58 points still stand as a single-game scoring record for Clemson, an incredible feat that has not been broken in over a century. Clemson won their first seven games, an impressive start for the program.
The Tigers began competing in the Southern Conference in 1921, and in the 1928-29 season, they won 15 games, a school record at the time. Clemson's early years included a notable victory over Adolph Rupp's 10-1 Kentucky Wildcats on Valentine's Day in 1931. Joe Davis coached the team from 1931 to 1940, leading the Tigers to 101 victories, including an impressive 44 wins on the road.
Clemson won their first conference championship in 1939, and they continued to build their basketball legacy over the following decades. The Tigers have a rich history in college basketball, with many achievements and memorable moments.
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Clemson Tigers have reached the NCAA tournament 14 times in the modern era
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball programme that competes in the NCAA Division I. Clemson is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Tigers have reached the NCAA tournament 14 times in the modern era (since 1980), most recently in 2024. They reached the Sweet 16 five times (1980, 1990, 1997, 2018, 2024) and their best performance was reaching the Elite Eight twice (1980, 2024).
Clemson first sponsored a men's basketball team in 1911-12, winning its first conference championship in 1939. The Tigers have never won the ACC basketball tournament, which began in 1953.
The Tigers began play in the Southern Conference in 1921 and had an 11-6 finish in 1922-23. Josh Cody coached for five seasons, the longest tenure for a Clemson Basketball coach in the first 25 years. In 1928-29, the Tigers won 15 games, a school record at the time. Cody led the team to its first huge upset in 1931 when they defeated Adolph Rupp's 10-1 Kentucky Wildcats 29-26.
From 1931 to 1940, Joe Davis coached Clemson to 101 victories, including 44 wins away from home. Davis still holds the best winning percentage in Clemson history for away games. He led the Tigers to a 15-3 record in 1934-35.
In the 1938-39 season, the Tigers won 10 of their last 11 games to close out the regular season. Banks McFadden, who went on to become an All-American in football and basketball, averaged 11.8 points per game and led the team in scoring.
Bill Foster kept Clemson at a winning level, becoming the fifth-fastest coach in ACC history to reach 100 wins. He coached the Tigers to victory over six top 20 teams during the 1979-80 season, including a win over #1 ranked Duke in overtime. Cliff Ellis became Clemson's winningest coach in terms of total victories, with a record of 177-128. He took the Tigers to eight post-season tournaments, including three NCAA tournaments.
Rick Barnes was the first coach to take Clemson to the NCAA Tournament three years in a row. In his third year, he led the team to a 16-1 start and a #2 national ranking. Brad Brownell, the current head coach, guided the Tigers to a fourth-place ACC finish and a second-round finish in the NCAA Tournament in his first season in 2010.
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Clemson Tigers play their home games at Littlejohn Coliseum
Clemson University is predominantly known for its football team, but the Clemson Tigers basketball team has a strong following and competes in the NCAA Division I. The Tigers play their home games at Littlejohn Coliseum, a 9,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Clemson, South Carolina, that first opened in 1968. The arena is named after James C. Littlejohn, Clemson's first business manager and the man responsible for the building of various athletic projects, including Memorial Stadium.
Littlejohn Coliseum is known for being the home of both the Clemson Tigers men's and women's basketball teams. The coliseum has three levels and is recognised for its atmosphere and high attendance, with an average of 1,100 Clemson students in attendance at the men's basketball games in the 2022-23 season. The arena has undergone several renovations over the years, including a $63.5 million upgrade in 2016 to provide players with the best equipment and atmosphere possible.
The Clemson Tigers basketball team has a rich history, with their first two basketball games played in Greenville, South Carolina, on February 9, 1912. The Tigers have reached the NCAA Tournament 14 times, advancing to the Sweet 16 on five occasions and reaching the Elite Eight in 1980 and 2024. The team has produced several notable players who have gone on to successful NBA careers, including Tree Rollins, Horace Grant, Elden Campbell, and Dale Davis.
Littlejohn Coliseum offers a unique experience for fans and members. The Courtside Club provides premium members with access to a space inside the tunnel of the coliseum and Courtside tickets to watch the Tigers play. The lobby of the coliseum features life-size mannequins displaying the team's most prominent jerseys and a section called "Clemson Fast Facts," providing visitors with information about the history of the arena and the university's athletic achievements. The coliseum also offers a variety of concession options, including local favourites such as BBQ pork tacos and pulled pork mac and cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in the NCAA Division 1.
Clemson sponsored its first men's basketball team in 1911-12, winning its first conference championship in 1939.
Brad Brownell is the current Clemson head basketball coach.
Clemson is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Clemson has reached the NCAA tournament 14 times in the modern era, advancing to the Sweet 16 five times and the Elite Eight twice.










































