Ayrton Oneill
Clemson Tigers men's basketball team has a long history, dating back to 1911-12 when they sponsored their first team. The Tigers have had notable wins over ranked teams, with a record of 55 wins at their home court, Littlejohn Coliseum. Clemson has reached the NCAA tournament 14 times and has advanced to the Sweet 16 five times, with their best performance reaching the Elite Eight twice. With a strong record and experienced players, the Tigers are a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. However, they have had some recent setbacks, with key players dealing with injuries and a disappointing loss in the ACC Tournament semifinals. It remains to be seen if they can overcome these challenges and secure a victory in the NCAA Tournament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First men's basketball team sponsored | 1911-12 |
| First conference championship win | 1939 |
| ACC regular season win | 1990 |
| Number of times reached NCAA tournament | 14 |
| Number of times reached NCAA Sweet 16 | 5 |
| Number of times reached Elite Eight | 2 |
| Home court | Littlejohn Coliseum |
| Number of wins at Littlejohn since 1968 | 55 |
| Number of wins against top 10 teams since 1968 | 23 |
| Clemson's single-game scoring record | 58 points by John Erwin |
| First basketball coach | Former Pittsburgh Nationals player Frank Dobson |
| Number of games won in first two seasons | 13 |
| Number of games won in 1928-29 | 15 |
| Number of games won from 1931 to 1940 under Joe Davis | 101 |
| Clemson's first professional player | Randy Mahaffey |
| Number of recent losses | Multiple |
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What You'll Learn
Clemson Tigers' history in basketball
Clemson University sponsored its first men's basketball team in 1911–12, winning its first conference championship in 1939 and the ACC regular season in 1990. The Tigers have never won the ACC basketball tournament since its inception in 1953.
The Tigers' first two basketball games were both played in Greenville, South Carolina, on February 9, 1912. The team won their first game 46–12 at Furman and then beat the Butler Guards 78–6 later that evening. Brothers John and Frank Erwin scored a combined 74 points in their second game; John Erwin's 58 points remain a Clemson single-game scoring record. Clemson won its first seven games, the longest streak to open a program among the current 15 ACC schools. Former Pittsburgh Nationals player Frank Dobson was Clemson's first basketball coach, guiding the Tigers to a 13–5 record in his first two seasons.
In the 1928–29 season, the Tigers won 15 games, a school record at the time, and then followed that with a 16–9 mark. In 1931, Josh Cody, who coached Clemson for five seasons, led the team to its first huge upset when they defeated Adolph Rupp's 10–1 Kentucky Wildcats, 29–26, at home. From 1931 to 1940, Joe Davis coached Clemson to 101 victories, including 44 wins on the road. Davis still holds the best winning percentage in Clemson history on the road and led the Tigers to a 15–3 (.833) mark in 1934–35. In the 1938–39 season, the Tigers won 10 of their last 11 games to close the regular season. Banks McFadden, an eventual All-American in both football and basketball, averaged 11.8 points per game and led the team to four victories.
In the 1954–55 season, Bill Yarborough averaged 28.3 points per game, the fourth-best in the nation and the best in the ACC. In 1958, Vince Yockel became the first Clemson player to make the first-team All-ACC. Press Maravich, the father of basketball legend Pete Maravich, coached the Tigers to a 96–94 double-overtime victory against an #8 NC State team. Jim Brennan became the first Clemson player to make the first-team All-ACC Tournament in 1962, scoring 34 points against #8 Duke in the semifinals. In 1963–64, coach Bobby Roberts guided the Tigers to an 8–6 record in the ACC, including the only regular-season sweep of North Carolina in school history.
In 1966–67, Clemson won seven straight ACC games, including consecutive wins over Wake Forest, #14 Duke, North Carolina State, and #4 North Carolina. It was the first sweep of the North Carolina ACC schools in ACC history. Clemson finished with a 17–8 record and a 9–5 record in the ACC. Randy Mahaffey, a first-team All-ACC selection, became Clemson's first professional player. His teammate Jim Sutherland averaged 17 points a game and was the first Clemson athlete in any sport to win the Jim Weaver Award as the ACC's top scholar-athlete.
In the 1970s, Tree Rollins changed the image of Clemson basketball more than any other player. At 7'2", he was a shot-blocking phenomenon who burst onto the national scene in his second game with 22 points, 20 rebounds, and nine blocked shots against St. John's. Rollins started 110 games in a row, a national record at the time.
The Tigers have reached the NCAA tournament 14 or 15 times in the modern era since the tournament expansion in 1980, advancing to the Sweet 16 five times and reaching the Elite Eight in 1980 and 2024. Clemson's home court, Littlejohn Coliseum, has been the scene of 55 Clemson wins over ranked teams (23 in the Top 10) since 1968. The Clemson basketball programs have won roughly 75% of their games in Littlejohn, making it one of the ACC's toughest road venues.
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Clemson's performance in the NCAA tournament
Clemson University's basketball team, the Clemson Tigers, has a long and storied history in the NCAA. The Tigers first took to the court in 1911-12, winning their first conference championship in 1939 and the ACC regular season in 1990. Since the NCAA tournament expansion in 1980, the Tigers have reached the tournament 14 times (most recently in 2024), advancing to the Sweet 16 five times and the Elite Eight twice, in 1980 and 2024.
The Tigers' first two basketball games were both played in Greenville, South Carolina, on February 9, 1912, with Clemson winning both games comfortably. The Tigers won their first seven games, the longest streak to open a program among the current 15 ACC schools. Clemson's history includes notable wins over top-ranked opponents, such as a victory over #1 Duke in 1980, a 75-65 win over #1 North Carolina in 2001, and a 74-47 victory over #3 Duke in 2009.
Several coaches have left their mark on the Tigers' program. Former Pittsburgh Nationals player Frank Dobson was Clemson's first basketball coach, leading the team to a 13-5 record in its first two seasons. Josh Cody coached for five seasons, the longest tenure for a Clemson Basketball coach in the first 25 years, and pulled off a significant upset when the Tigers defeated the Kentucky Wildcats in 1931. Press Maravich, father of basketball legend Pete Maravich, coached the Tigers to a notable double-overtime victory over an #8 NC State team. Cliff Ellis, who became Clemson's winningest coach, took the Tigers to eight post-season tournaments, including three NCAA tournaments, and set 33 coaching records. Rick Barnes was the first coach to take the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament three consecutive years, from 1996 to 1998, and Oliver Purnell rebuilt the program after several lacklustre seasons, guiding the Tigers to three NCAA appearances.
Despite a record-setting 2022-23 season, the Tigers did not qualify for the 2023 NCAA Tournament, missing out by a narrow margin. However, they participated in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) as a #1 seed, facing Morehead State in the first round. Clemson's basketball program continues to strive for success, aiming to build on its rich history and return to the NCAA Tournament.
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Clemson's home court advantage
Clemson University's basketball team, the Clemson Tigers, has a distinct home-court advantage. The Tigers' home court is Littlejohn Coliseum, which has been the scene of 55 Clemson wins over ranked teams (23 in the Top 10) since 1968. The Clemson basketball programs have won roughly 75% of their games in Littlejohn, making it one of the ACC's toughest road venues.
The Tigers' first two basketball games were played in Greenville, South Carolina, on February 9, 1912, with Clemson winning both. Clemson won its first seven games, the longest streak to open a program among the current 15 ACC schools. The Tigers' first basketball coach was former Pittsburgh Nationals player Frank Dobson, who led the team to a 13-5 record in its first two seasons.
In the 1928–29 season, the Tigers won 15 games, a school record at the time. The following season, they improved to a 16–9 record. On Valentine's Day in 1931, Josh Cody, who coached for five seasons (the longest tenure for a Clemson Basketball coach in the first 25 years), led the Tigers to victory over Adolph Rupp's 10–1 Kentucky Wildcats at Clemson. This was the first huge upset in Clemson basketball history.
In the 1963–64 season, coach Bobby Roberts guided the Tigers to an 8–6 record in the ACC, including the only regular-season sweep of North Carolina in school history. Clemson won seven straight ACC games in 1966–67, including consecutive wins over Wake Forest, #14 Duke, North Carolina State, and #4 North Carolina.
In 2003, Clemson chose to renovate Littlejohn Coliseum instead of building a bigger arena. Littlejohn is known for its noise, perhaps the only venue in the league that can rival Cameron Indoor Stadium in this regard. Clemson's home-court advantage has been further bolstered by the hiring of Oliver Purnell and the relatively intact seating bowl, which other schools have sacrificed for greater gate receipts.
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Key players and their performance
Clemson University's basketball team, the Clemson Tigers, has a long and storied history, with several notable players who have contributed to the team's success over the years. Here is a look at some of the key players and their performances:
The Erwin brothers, John and Frank, were stars of the team during its inaugural season in 1912. In the team's second game, the brothers combined for 74 points, with John scoring 58, which still stands as a single-game scoring record for Clemson. John Erwin's scoring prowess helped the Tigers win their first seven games, the longest winning streak to open a program among the current 15 ACC schools.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Tigers were coached by Josh Cody, who led the team to 15 wins in the 1928-29 season, a school record at the time. During his five seasons as head coach, Cody oversaw the first huge upset in Clemson basketball history: a 29-26 victory over the 10-1 Kentucky Wildcats in 1931.
From 1931 to 1940, Joe Davis took over as head coach, guiding the Tigers to 101 victories, including an impressive 44 road wins. Davis's teams were consistent winners, and in the 1938-39 season, they won 10 of their last 11 games to close out the regular season. Banks McFadden, an All-American in both football and basketball, was a key player during this era, averaging 11.8 points per game to lead the team.
In the 1960s, Press Maravich, father of basketball legend Pete Maravich, coached the Tigers to several notable victories. In the 1963-64 season, Maravich led the Tigers to an 8-6 record in the ACC, including the only regular-season sweep of North Carolina in school history. Clemson won twice against the Tar Heels, both in double overtime. Jim Brennan also stood out during this era, becoming the first Clemson player to make the first-team All-ACC Tournament in 1962.
In the 1970s, Tree Rollins made a significant impact on Clemson basketball. At 7'2", he was a dominant force, known for his shot-blocking ability. In just his second game, he recorded 22 points, 20 rebounds, and nine blocked shots. Rollins started 110 consecutive games, setting a national record at the time.
The Tigers have had their fair share of success, reaching the NCAA tournament 14 times since 1980 and advancing to the Sweet 16 on five occasions. With a history of strong player and coaching performances, the Clemson Tigers have established a competitive basketball program.
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Clemson's performance against top-ranking teams
Clemson Tigers men's basketball team has a rich history dating back to 1911-12 when they sponsored their first team. 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.
In the 1979-80 season, Clemson's success continued as they defeated six top 20 teams, including a memorable overtime win against the #1 ranked Duke. This team was coached by Cliff Ellis, who became the winningest coach in Clemson basketball history at the time.
The Tigers have also had their fair share of upsets against highly-ranked opponents. In 1931, they pulled off a huge surprise by defeating Adolph Rupp's 10-1 Kentucky Wildcats. In the 1963-64 season, under coach Bobby Roberts, Clemson achieved the only regular-season sweep of North Carolina in school history, with back-to-back double-overtime wins. Clemson also won seven straight ACC games during the 1966-67 season, including victories over #14 Duke, #4 North Carolina, and others.
In recent times, Clemson has continued to showcase their ability to compete against top-ranking teams. In one season, they opened with a 79-71 overtime victory against the defending National Champion Kentucky. They ended that season with a 23-10 record and were ranked #8 in the final USA Today poll. Clemson also achieved their first ACC Tournament victory over #20 North Carolina during this season.
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Frequently asked questions
Clemson has 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. Clemson's home court is Littlejohn Coliseum, where they have won roughly 75% of their games, making it one of the ACC's toughest venues for opponents.
Clemson's basketball history dates back to 1911-12 when they sponsored their first men's basketball team. They won their first seven games, including a 78-6 victory over the Butler Guards. In 1931, the Tigers defeated the Kentucky Wildcats, which was the first huge upset in their basketball history. Clemson players have also achieved individual accolades, such as Jim Brennan becoming the first Clemson player to make the first-team All-ACC Tournament in 1962.
Notable coaches include Josh Cody, who has the longest tenure for a Clemson Basketball coach in the first 25 years, and Press Maravich, who coached the Tigers to a double-overtime victory against an NC State team. More recently, Brad Brownell has served as the head coach, leading the team to appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Clemson has had recent success in reaching the NCAA Tournament, but they have also faced setbacks. In the 2024-25 season, key players like Cooper Flagg and Keshon Gilbert dealt with injuries ahead of the NCAA Men's Tournament. Clemson has also experienced close losses, such as a 76-73 loss to Louisville in the ACC Tournament semifinal round, impacting their ranking and selection for future tournaments.
