Clemson (14-4) (NET: 35)
2-2 (Q1), 2-2 (Q2), 6-0 (Q3), 4-0 (Q4)
Despite dropping three nonconference games, the Tigers did a much better job building their resume before league play than many of the teams in this conference. They had three Quad 1 opportunities and won a pair of them, even surprising Kentucky in a 4-point win in early December. The other Quad 1 win came at the Sunshine Slam against Penn State, one day after a Quad 2 win over San Francisco.
The negative from that stretch was a pair of Quad 2 losses that actually came back-to-back in mid-December. Clemson was upset at home by a feisty Memphis squad before falling to rival South Carolina just three days later in a pair of high-scoring affairs in overtime. This team also lost at Boise State in a Quad 1 defeat back in November and fell by double-digits to Louisville last week.
Things would look remarkable for the Tigers had either of those overtime games gone the other way, but this resume is still in very solid shape. None of those losses are truly catastrophic and they are off to a 6-1 start in ACC play. This season a loss at Louisville is forgivable and this offense has been playing some of their most efficient basketball in recent weeks.
Moving forward, the Tigers have opportunities aplenty to make an impression, starting this weekend at Pittsburgh. The big one on the calendar is February 8th at home against Duke, a game that might be their best chance to secure their place and improve their seed. At the same time it’s imperative to keep avoiding those pitfalls, as a number of Quad 3 games come in the next few weeks against the lower tier of ACC schools.