ACC Basketball power rankings: Clemson and Georgia Tech rises, Duke falls
By Joey Loose
4. Clemson (7-0, 1-0)
Brad Brownell has taken these Tigers to the NCAA Tournament just twice in the last decade. Clemson finished 14-6 in conference play last season but it wasn’t the ACC’s strongest year and they were left out in the cold. This year’s team looks even better than that 23-win squad, but just what exactly can these Tigers accomplish? Can they match the 2018 squad that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen?
To this point, Clemson is the only unbeaten team left in the ACC. Early season wins over UAB and Davidson were close calls away from home, but the Tigers at least got the job done. Where they’ve really impressed has been in the last week, first earning a true road win at a ranked Alabama squad. After that inspired performance, Clemson kept up their fantastic offensive play with a road win at Pittsburgh, getting an early win in ACC play.
Clemson hasn’t faced the toughest 7-game stretch in the world, but it’s impossible not to be impressed by their recent road efforts and the play of PJ Hall. As mentioned, the Tigers look even better than last season and it would be hard to keep them out of the Big Dance if they keep playing like this. While they do sit unbeaten through seven games, their play has been far from perfect and we’ll just have to see if they can keep bringing their best, especially with some tough contests in the weeks ahead.