USA TODAY Sports projects new NCAA Tournament seed and opponent for Clemson basketball
Clemson basketball has never had a season like the one they've enjoyed so far in 2025.
Brad Brownell's team completed the regular season last Saturday with a blowout win over Virginia Tech to finish 26-5 overall and 18-2 in ACC play. Both the 26 overall wins and 18 conference victories were school records for Clemson, who slayed college basketball blue bloods Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina.
Clemson can win the school's first ACC Tournament championship this week when the Tigers begin play Thursday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
Advertisement
Clemson will be the No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament. Their NCAA Tournament seed is still up in the air, but the Tigers could help themselves tremendously with a run to Saturday night's conference title game.
On Tuesday, USA TODAY Sports' expert panel of Paul Myerberg, Eddie Timanus and Erick Smith moved Clemson up one spot from last week in their new field of 68 projections. The group now have the Tigers as a projected No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
ESPN's Joe Lunardi also has Clemson as a No. 4 seed in his updated bracketology projections, while CBS Sports' Jerry Palm projects the Tigers as a No. 5 seed.
USA TODAY Sports' panel has Clemson facing Big South Championship title game winner High Point in a No. 4/13 seed game in the South Region, where the Auburn Tigers are the No. 1 seed. Bruce Pearl's Tigers join Duke, Houston, and the Florida Gators as projected No. 1 seeds entering conference tournament week.
Clemson basketball schedule: TV channel, tipoff for Tigers in ACC Tournament
The Tigers will take the court Thursday night for a scheduled 9:30 p.m. ET tipoff in the quarterfinal round of the ACC Tournament. They'll face the winner of Wednesday evening's game between No. 6 seed SMU and either No. 14 seed Florida State or No. 11 seed Syracuse. Clemson's game will be televised on either ESPN or ESPN2.
Advertisement
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. Follow Steve Holley on Twitter/X at @BySteveHolley.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson earns new March Madness prediction from USA TODAY Sports
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Erik Bakich Makes Bold Omaha Promise After Clemson's Season-Ending Loss
Erik Bakich Makes Bold Omaha Promise After Clemson's Season-Ending Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson's season came to a crashing halt Sunday afternoon with a 16-4 loss to Kentucky in the NCAA Regional elimination game, but head coach Erik Bakich's message after the game wasn't one of disappointment. It was one of urgency — and bold optimism. Advertisement 'This team is going back to Omaha,' Bakich said at the postgame press conference. 'Clemson baseball is going back to Omaha. It's going to happen.' It's a strong promise for a program that hasn't made it to the College World Series since 2010 — a fact Bakich didn't shy away from. If anything, he leaned into it. 'Clemson baseball hasn't been to Omaha since 2010. We know. We've got it. We're doing everything in our power to fix that,' he said. 'Falling short like this is not the standard. That's not what this program is about.' The Tigers, who finish 45-18, were overwhelmed by Kentucky's offense, giving up 11 runs across the third and fourth innings. The blowout loss capped off a brutal end to Clemson's postseason, with back-to-back lopsided defeats after a promising start to the regional. Advertisement Despite the way things ended, Bakich said this team 'overachieved' after losing a significant amount of production from last year's roster. 'There was never a question of effort, of attitude,' Bakich said. 'They found ways to flex their mental toughness and get ahead.' With the offseason now underway, Bakich made it clear Clemson will be aggressive in retooling the roster — starting with the transfer portal. 'You've gotta have good players,' he said. 'This is a place where you can get anyone to come play.' Clemson Head Coach Erik Bakich and outfielder Cam Cannarella (10) hug after the NCAA baseball Clemson Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium© Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Bakich and his staff conduct a weekly 'needs assessment' to evaluate the current roster and identify targets. Their top priority heading into the offseason? Arms. Advertisement 'Pitching covers up a lot,' Bakich said. 'We need more and more guys who can just shut it down … and guys that can change a game with one swing.' Players like Cam Cannarella, who extended his hitting streak to 22 games Sunday, and Dominic Listi, who set an ACC record with his 30th hit-by-pitch, gave the Tigers consistency, but not enough firepower when it mattered most. Still, Bakich believes the foundation is set — and his vision for where Clemson baseball is going couldn't be more clear. 'This is Clemson. We're going to attract the right guys,' he said. 'Now we've got to go get them. We've got work to do, and we're not backing down.' Advertisement Related: Cannarella likely done at Clemson after postseason collapse MLB draft call looms Related: Los Angeles Dodgers Get a Steal With Cam Cannarella in Mock Draft Related: Larry Fitzgerald's Son Announces Major Offer From Top College Football Program This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Texas A&M is reportedly pursuing Cal State Fullerton star short stop
Texas A&M is reportedly pursuing Cal State Fullerton star short stop Texas A&M baseball's roster will look significantly different in 2026, primarily due to the departure of junior star outfielder Jace LaViolette, who is expected to enter the 2025 MLB Draft, along with several pitchers, including Ryan Prager and Justin Lamkin, who have yet to announce their decisions. Still, nothing compares to the last month's news regarding Texas A&M Athletic Director Trev Alberts' decison to retain head coach Michael Earley, whose inagural season ended with a dissapointing 30-26 (11-19 SEC) record, including a series sweeping loss to lowly Missouri, which all but eliminated the Aggies from the NCAA Tournament. Given a second chance, Earely will need dominate the transfer portal, which, outside of adding three veterans, pitchers Michael (MJ) Bollinger (FAU), Preston Prince (Rutgers), and star outfielder Jake Duer, also an FAU transfer, he will need to continue bolstering the roster to have any chance at competing in the always stacked SEC next season. This week, it was revealed that star Cal Fullerton shortstop Maddox Latta has entered the transfer portal. According to AggieYell (Rivals) Editor Mark Passwaters, Texas A&M is in pursuit, which could lead to a future visit. Currently, junior shortstop Kaeden Kent has yet to announce his return for next season, and although his return is assumed, nothing is guaranteed. Last season, Latta was highly productive, leading Cal Fullerton with a .362 batting average, 72 hits, 27 RBI, and three home runs. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Report: Steelers are 'lowballing' teams in trade talks for additional pass catchers
Report: Steelers are 'lowballing' teams in trade talks for additional pass catchers The Aaron Rodgers-led Steelers could use some additional pieces on offense — but are reportedly 'lowballing' teams in trade talks. Insider Jonathan Jones recently shared on CBS Sports' Pushing the Pile podcast that the Steelers are offering teams very little compensation in trade talks: 'They're going to have to get another pass catcher," Jones said. "I don't know if that's wide receiver, and I don't know if that's tight end. They're going to have to get a pass catcher and they know that. They've been lowballing teams when they make a call, saying, 'Hey, how about this guy?' And they're like, 'No, we're not doing that for a conditional sixth-round pick.'' Several trade-target pass catchers — like wide receivers Allen Lazard and Chris Olave, as well as tight ends Jonnu Smith and Kyle Pitts — have been linked to Pittsburgh this offseason, but it remains to be seen if the Steelers' negotiation tactics will actually pay off. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
