Clemson Basketball: Tigers match up with Auburn in the round of 32

An evenly matched second-round game featuring two Tigers provides Clemson with an unexpected chance to advance to the sweet sixteen.

TV Schedule: 7:10 p.m. on TBS

Location: Viejas Arena in San Diego, California

To the surprise of quite a few analysts, Clemson survived their first-round challenge New Mexico State, and they survived in quite impressive fashion. The Aggies were no match for the Tigers, who took control early and cruised to a 79-68 victory.

Auburn had a much more difficult time in their opening game, defeating Charleston in a game that came down to the wire by a final of 62-58. The inexperience of Auburn was more evident in their game than that of Clemson in their victory, but there is no telling how these two teams will match up.

One very predictable element of this game is that it is more than likely going to be a defensive struggle. Both teams excel in the half court defensively and don’t shoot at a very high percentage. With a similar preferred pace, it is a safe bet to predict that this game will be decided in the half court.

With a slow pace and a lot of defense, it is also likely that this game comes down to the wire. With two teams with little recent tournament history and a lot of radical inconsistency this season, this is one of the most unpredictable tournament matchups.

More from Busting Brackets

• NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top 5 teams for top-100 SG Larry Johnson
• Oregon Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2023-24
• Big East Basketball: Ranking all head coaches going into 2023-24 season
• Florida State Basketball: Is Seminoles roster good enough to win in 2023-24?
• SEC Basketball: 10 potential additions for the league if they ever expanded

For Clemson, it often either seems to be feast or famine. Their backcourt is strong, featuring two guards who can score and create in Gabe DeVoe and Sheldon Mitchell. In the first round, these two combined for 45 points. But in previous games, Clemson has struggled offensively, including being held to 36 points in a game against Virginia earlier this year.

Auburn has some playmakers as well, including a backcourt featuring Mustapha Heron and Bryce Brown. But with Clemson being one of the better teams in the country when it comes to defending the perimeter, the Tigers are going to need to attack the basket against Clemson and trust their size in the middle.

Ultimately, this game could come down to something as simple as shooting, ball security, and a play or two down the stretch. These two teams are similar, but Clemson has shown more to prove that they belong in this position than Auburn.

Next: March Madness: Impact of UMBC's shocking win

For this reason, seeding should be disregarded, and Clemson should be given a slight edge in the battle of the Tigers. Another strong performance from their backcourt and a few important stops down the stretch will propel Clemson to the sweet sixteen.

Prediction: Clemson 59, Auburn 54