Amanda Knapp
The Clemson Tigers are the men's basketball team representing Clemson University. They compete in the NCAA Division I and are a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Clemson's basketball program began in 1911-12, and the team has since achieved notable successes, including winning their first conference championship in 1939 and the ACC regular season in 1990. With a history of strong performances and a dedicated home court, Littlejohn Coliseum, the Clemson Tigers have established themselves as a competitive force in college basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Clemson Tigers |
| University | Clemson University |
| League | NCAA Division I |
| Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Home Court | Littlejohn Coliseum |
| Head Coach | Brad Brownell |
| Nickname | Tigers |
| Colors | Tiger Orange & Regalia |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Clemson Tigers men's basketball team
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball programme that represents Clemson University and competes in the NCAA Division I. 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 NCAA Sweet 16 five times, with their best performance reaching the Elite Eight twice in 1980 and 2024. Clemson's home court is Littlejohn Coliseum, where they have won roughly 75% of their games, making it one of the ACC's toughest road venues.
The Tigers began play in the Southern Conference in 1921, and in the 1928–29 season, they won 15 games, a school record at the time. In 1931, Josh Cody coached the Tigers to their first huge upset, defeating Adolph Rupp's 10–1 Kentucky Wildcats, 29–26. From 1931 to 1940, Joe Davis coached Clemson to 101 victories, including 44 wins on the road, giving him the best winning percentage in Clemson history on the road.
In 1953, Clemson became a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In the 1954–55 season, Bill Yarborough averaged 28.3 points per game, the best in the ACC and fourth-best in the nation. Vince Yockel became the first Clemson player to make the first-team All-ACC in 1958. In 1962, Jim Brennan became the first Clemson player to make the first-team All-ACC Tournament, scoring 34 points against Duke in the semifinals.
In the 1963–64 season, coach Bobby Roberts led the Tigers to an 8–6 record in the ACC, including a regular-season sweep of North Carolina, which remains the only time Clemson has achieved this feat. In the 1966–67 season, Clemson won seven straight ACC games, including wins over four North Carolina ACC schools: Wake Forest, Duke, North Carolina State, and North Carolina. This was the first sweep of the North Carolina ACC schools in ACC history.
In the 1973–74 season, Tree Rollins joined the Clemson Tigers, changing the image of Clemson basketball more than any other player. In his sophomore year, he helped the Tigers achieve their first top 20 final ranking and their first postseason NIT tournament bid. Rollins started 110 games in a row, which was a national record at the time.
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team continues to compete at a high level, with recent highlights including a win over Virginia in March 2025, and participation in the 2025 Greenville Winter Invitational.
The Evolution of Quadrant Rankings in Basketball
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference
Clemson University's basketball team, the Clemson Tigers, compete in the NCAA Division I and are a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The ACC is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The ACC currently has 18 member institutions across 12 states, predominantly in the Southern and Northeastern United States along the Atlantic coast.
The ACC was founded on May 8, 1953, by seven universities located in the South Atlantic states. Clemson sponsored its first 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 reaching the Elite Eight twice, in 1980 and 2024.
Clemson's basketball history has some notable achievements. For example, the Tigers won their first seven games, which is the longest streak to open a program among the current 15 ACC schools. The team has also performed well at their home court, Littlejohn Coliseum, winning roughly 75% of their games there, making it one of the toughest road venues in the ACC.
The ACC is highly regarded academically, with nine institutions being members of the Association of American Universities. The conference also enjoys extensive media coverage and is considered one of the "Power Four" conferences in college football.
Crafting Basketball Shoes: DIY Guide for Sports Enthusiasts
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Clemson's first basketball coach
Clemson University's basketball team, the Clemson Tigers, compete in the NCAA Division I. The team's first basketball game was played on February 9, 1912, in Greenville, South Carolina, with their first coach, Frank Dobson, a former Pittsburgh Nationals player. Dobson led the Tigers to victory in their first game, with a score of 46-12 against Furman. The same day, the Tigers played their second game, beating the Butler Guards 78-6.
Dobson was Clemson's coach for the team's first two seasons, leading them to a 13-5 record. The Tigers began play in the Southern Conference in 1921, and in the 1922-23 season, they finished with an 11-6 record.
Following Dobson, Josh Cody coached the Tigers for five seasons, from 1924 to 1928. During the 1928-29 season, the team won 15 games, a school record at the time. On Valentine's Day in 1931, Cody led the Tigers to defeat Adolph Rupp's 10-1 Kentucky Wildcats, 29-26, at Clemson, marking the first huge upset in the team's history.
Joe Davis took over as head coach from 1931 to 1940, guiding the Tigers to 101 victories, including 44 wins on the road. Davis still holds the best winning percentage in Clemson history for away games and led the team to a notable 15-3 (0.833) record in the 1934-35 season.
Since its early years, Clemson University's basketball program has had numerous coaches, with Brad Brownell serving as the current head coach.
Mastering the Art of Passing and Cutting in Basketball
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Record-breaking 2008-09 season
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that represents Clemson University in South Carolina and competes in the NCAA Division I. The Tigers are a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The 2008-09 season was record-breaking for the Clemson Tigers. The team, coached by Oliver Purnell, finished with a 23-9 record, a .719 winning percentage, and a No. 24 final ranking in the Associated Press poll. This was the fifth consecutive year that Clemson had improved its winning percentage from the previous year. Purnell's record as a coach stood at 138-88, and he guided the Tigers to three NCAA appearances.
The 2008-09 season saw the Tigers defeat several ranked opponents by large margins. They beat #3 Duke 74-47 at Littlejohn Coliseum, the largest margin of victory ever for Clemson against a ranked opponent. They also defeated #2 Duke 77-71, matching their highest-ranked opponent at the time. Clemson's victory over Boston College on February 10 was only the third ACC road win over an ACC team that finished the year with a winning record in the past 22 years. The Tigers' victory over Maryland on February 17 was also a record-breaker, with a 29-point margin of victory, the largest in Clemson history against Maryland.
The season also saw individual players break records. Senior guard K.C. Rivers broke the team record for most career wins as a player with 85, surpassing the previous record of 84. Sophomore Terrence Oglesby made 92 three-point goals, the fourth-highest single-season total in school history. Demontez Stitt took 18 charges, tied for the sixth-best in Clemson history and the most since 1988.
Switching Hands in Badminton: Is It Allowed?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Clemson Tigers college basketball conference standings
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that represents Clemson University and competes in the NCAA Division I. Clemson is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Tigers have had a rich history in college basketball, sponsoring their first men's basketball team as early as the 1911-12 season. They won their first conference championship in 1939 and the ACC regular season in 1990. Clemson has reached the NCAA tournament 14 times in the modern era, advancing to the Sweet 16 five times and reaching the Elite Eight twice in 1980 and 2024.
The Tigers' home court, Littlejohn Coliseum, has been witness to many of their victories. They have achieved a winning percentage of roughly 75% in Littlejohn, making it one of the toughest venues for opponents in the ACC. Clemson's current head coach, Brad Brownell, led the team to a successful 2010 season, finishing with a record of 22 wins and guiding the Tigers to a 4th-place ACC finish and a 2nd-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
The 2023-24 season was also a standout year for the Clemson Tigers. Led by All-ACC selection PJ Hall and senior guard Chase Hunter, the team earned ranked non-conference wins over rivals South Carolina and Alabama. They achieved their second-ever win in Chapel Hill over #3 UNC, which was the second-highest-ranked road win in Tigers history. The Tigers were selected for their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2021 as a 6th seed, advancing to the Elite Eight and defeating three favoured teams before falling to Alabama.
Overall, the Clemson Tigers have consistently performed well in the ACC, with notable achievements including Bill Foster's record of 100 wins in his first 147 games, and Cliff Ellis becoming the winningest coach in Clemson basketball history. The Tigers have also produced NBA talents such as Horace Grant, Harvey Grant, and Larry Nance.
Effective Stain Removal Techniques for Basketball Jerseys
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Clemson University's basketball team, the Clemson Tigers, compete in the NCAA Division I.
Clemson is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and first sponsored a men's basketball team in the 1911-12 season.
The Clemson Tigers have won roughly 75% of their games in Littlejohn, making it one of the ACC's toughest venues for opponents. The team has reached the NCAA tournament 14 times in the modern era, advancing to the Sweet 16 on five occasions and reaching the Elite Eight twice.
Brad Brownell is the current head coach of the Clemson Tigers.
