Bracket Watch: Clemson men move up metrics, on projections bubble |
Another close call for Clemson versus a quality opponent has the metrics on their side - and still in one major NCAA tournament projection going into a crucial stretch.
A 14-point win at Pitt and a 2-point loss to No. 5 UNC moved the Tigers up three spots in the new NCAA NET rankings (40) and four spots according to the KenPom metric (30). Bracket projections are mixed on Clemson, with CBS Sports bracketologist Jerry Palm pegging them for the First Four and ESPN's Joe Lunardi placing them as the last team left out. Brad Brownell's Tigers face a favorable schedule this week with a winnable road game on Senior Night Wednesday versus Notre Dame (13-16, 3-13; 9 p.m./ESPNU) and a potential resume-builder versus Syracuse at home Saturday (No. 39 NET; noon/CBS). The Tigers' win at Pitt did improve their record to 4-2 in NET Quadrant 2 matchups and a sweep this week would improve that mark to 6-2. Clemson's next shot at doubling its Quadrant 1 wins (1) would be in the ACC Tournament. Clemson (17-12, 7-9 ACC) is likely locked into a 9-seed for next week's ACC Tourney and a matchup with NC State (20-9, 8-8) next Wednesday at noon in Charlotte. That game sets up as a potential NCAAs-eliminator, as NC State is in the first four out for CBS. Clemson men NCAA Tournament profile Record: 17-12 (7-9 ACC) NET: 40 Record v. NET Quadrant 1 & 2: 5-12 Strength of Schedule: 31 Average NET of Wins: 151 Average NET of Losses: 30 Bad losses (150+ NET): None RPI: 62 Road/neutral record: 5-8 KenPom: 30 Record v. current KenPom top-50: 2-10 Top-25 ranked wins (at the time): No. 11 Virginia Tech (59-51 at home) Last 10: 6-4 Clemson women look to secure NCAAs bid Amanda Butler's Tigers (18-11, 9-7 ACC) head into this week's ACC Tournament projected in the NCAA Tournament but can put no doubt on a first NCAAs bid since 2002 with a win over 10-seed Virginia Tech Thursday (6 p.m./RSN). ESPN projections have them as a 9-seed in the 64-team field, going to the Baylor regional pod to face UCLA. Bracketologist Charlie Creme has the Tigers in the Greensboro-hosted regional overall in the same top half of the bracket with a projected 4-seed in South Carolina. Clemson has a No. 54 RPI. (Data per WarrenNolan.com and KenPom)
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