Kristian Ferrell
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team has had a successful season, with 23 wins and a strong start, including nine straight wins. However, they fell short of making the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. Despite their impressive record, the Tigers needed a miracle to secure a spot among the 68 teams in the tournament. With early-season losses to South Carolina and Loyola Chicago, the Clemson basketball team faced setbacks that ultimately contributed to their absence from the tournament. Clemson exceeded expectations by finishing third in the ACC, but their fate was decided on Selection Sunday, leaving them out of the highly anticipated March Madness.
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What You'll Learn
Clemson Tigers' NCAA Tournament history
The Clemson Tigers have a long history of participating in the NCAA Tournament, having qualified 14 times since the tournament's expansion in 1980. However, they have never won the ACC basketball tournament since it began in 1953.
The Tigers' first NCAA Tournament appearance was in 1980, where they reached the Elite Eight, their best performance in the tournament. They defeated six top 20 teams during the year, including a notable victory over #1 ranked Duke. Cliff Ellis, the coach at the time, became the winningest coach in Clemson basketball history, taking the Tigers to eight post-season tournaments, including three NCAA tournaments.
Rick Barnes, another notable coach, was the first in Clemson history to lead the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament for three consecutive years from 1996 to 1998. In his third year, the team had a remarkable 16-1 start and a #2 national ranking, ending the season with a 23-10 record and a #8 ranking in the USA Today poll.
In 2010, under the guidance of coach Brad Brownell, the Tigers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, setting a record with 22 wins, the most by a rookie coach. Brownell's leadership continued to benefit the team, as they won a school-record 14 ACC games in the 2022-2023 season, including victories over prominent opponents such as Duke, NC State, and Pittsburgh. Despite their impressive performance, the Tigers were not selected for the 2023 NCAA Tournament, much to the disappointment of players, coaches, and fans.
Overall, the Clemson Tigers have a rich history in the NCAA Tournament, with several notable coaches and players contributing to their success over the years. While they have had periods of outstanding performance, they have also experienced setbacks, such as their absence from the 2023 tournament despite a strong regular season.
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Clemson's 2025 NCAA Tournament bid
Clemson holds a 14-14 record in the NCAA Tournament, including two Elite Eight appearances and five trips to the Sweet 16. The Tigers' most successful NCAA runs came in 2024 and 1980, reaching the Elite Eight. In 1980, Clemson won three tournament games under head coach Bill Foster, before losing to UCLA.
Clemson's 2025 bid marks the third year in a row the team has participated in the tournament, the first time this has happened since the 1996-98 tournaments. The Tigers entered the 2025 tournament with a 27-6 record, including an 18-2 mark in regular-season ACC games.
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Clemson's 2024 March Madness journey
In the highly anticipated first-round game, Clemson emerged victorious, showcasing their resilience and determination. With this win, the Tigers advanced to the next round, where they encountered a formidable opponent in the form of Baylor. Clemson's momentum continued as they defeated Baylor, adding another impressive win to their March Madness campaign.
The Tigers' dream run in the 2024 tournament progressed further as they faced yet another challenging matchup, this time against Arizona. In a closely contested game, Clemson demonstrated their tenacity and fighting spirit, pulling off a remarkable win over Arizona to advance even deeper into the tournament.
Clemson's remarkable journey in the 2024 March Madness tournament culminated in a hard-fought game against Alabama. Unfortunately, their magical run came to an end as they fell short in this Elite Eight matchup, concluding their deepest tournament run since 1980. Nonetheless, the Tigers' performance in the 2024 NCAA Tournament will be remembered as a testament to their unwavering spirit and exceptional basketball prowess.
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Clemson's 1980 NCAA Tournament run
Bill Foster's Tigers opened the tournament with a 76-73 win over Utah State in Ogden, Utah. They then defeated BYU, also in Ogden, by a close margin of 49-47. In the next round, Clemson beat Lamar in Tucson, Arizona.
In the Elite Eight, Clemson faced UCLA, coached by Larry Brown. Clemson lost this game by 11 points (some sources state the score was 85-74 in UCLA's favour, while others state that UCLA vacated the appearance due to major violations). This was the furthest Clemson had ever gotten in the tournament at the time, and it remains their best performance in the NCAA Tournament to date, matched only by their Elite Eight appearance in 2024.
Clemson's 1980 run was notable for its early successes, with the team defeating six top 20 teams during the year, including a 1980 #1-ranked Duke, whom they beat 87-82 in overtime. Clemson's performance in the 1980 NCAA Tournament set a strong precedent for the team's future tournament appearances.
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Brad Brownell, Clemson's head coach
Bradley Robert Brownell, born on November 15, 1968, in Evansville, Indiana, is the current head coach of the Clemson Tigers men's basketball team. Brownell played high school basketball at William Henry Harrison High School and later graduated from DePauw University in 1991, where he played for the basketball team. After graduating, he immediately went into coaching, spending one season as an assistant coach at the University of Evansville and then two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Indianapolis.
Brownell joined Clemson University as the head coach of the men's basketball team in 2010. In his first season, he 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's success continued in his second season, with the Tigers achieving a 16-15 record and an 8-8 finish in ACC play. In 2013, despite a challenging overall record of 13-18, the Tigers excelled in several statistical categories, including scoring defence, and set a record for the fewest turnovers.
Brownell has had notable achievements during his tenure at Clemson, including leading the Tigers to their first 20-win season since 2013-14 during the 2017-18 season. In 2021, Brownell coached the Tigers to their first road victory at UNC after 59 attempts. Most recently, in the 2023-24 season, Brownell guided the Tigers to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2021 and their second Elite Eight appearance in history, defeating notable opponents such as New Mexico, Baylor, and Arizona.
Brownell's impact at Clemson is evident through the team's improved performance and notable wins. He has been rewarded for his success with a contract extension and is set to remain at Clemson through at least the 2024 season, with reports suggesting his contract could extend until the 2028-29 season.
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Frequently asked questions
Clemson University's basketball team earned a bid to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, marking their 15th tournament appearance. They were selected as a No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region and faced the No. 12 seed McNeese State in the first round.
Clemson has reached the NCAA Tournament 14 times since 1980, with their first appearance in the tournament in 1980. They have advanced to the Elite Eight twice (1980 and 2024) and reached the Sweet 16 five times.
Clemson holds a 14-14 record in the NCAA Tournament, with eight wins and nine losses on the court according to one source. However, another source mentions they have 15 tournament appearances, suggesting their record may be 8-7.
Brad Brownell is the current head coach of Clemson's basketball team. The 2025 NCAA Tournament will be the fifth time the team has advanced to the tournament under his leadership.
Clemson has had mixed results in recent years. They were left out of the NCAA Tournament in 2023 but made it to the second round in 2024 as part of March Madness.
