CLEMSON BASKETBALL

The 5-game ACC winning streak has Clemson in rarified air as a program, where an NCAA 4-seed is a program-high. (ACC photo)
The 5-game ACC winning streak has Clemson in rarified air as a program, where an NCAA 4-seed is a program-high. (ACC photo)

Bracket Watch: Clemson moves up in seed projections heading into March


by - Staff Writer -

As the calendar turns to March, Clemson's winning basketball lately has surged them into the conversation for a top-4 seed nationally, as well as in a good spot for the upcoming ACC Tournament (March 9-13).

CBS Sports moved Brad Brownell's Tigers up a seed-line for a second-straight projection -- now a No. 4 taking on projected SoCon champ UNC-Greensboro.

On average, the top bracketologists have Clemson as a 6-seed currently with picks as high as No. 3.

Saturday's win over Miami wasn't a resume-booster for the NCAA NET ranking (34; down 2) or the KenPom rating (38; down 1), with the overall strength of schedule slightly down (14; down 5 spots) but the non-conference strength of schedule vaulted 14 spots over the weekend (to 78th). Part of the latter jump was the Maryland win moving back into a Quadrant 1 victory, improving the Tigers' record to 4-5 against Q1 teams.

For the ACC Tournament, Clemson's path to a double-bye is clear if the current schedule holds.

With Louisville heading to Virginia Tech on Wednesday, a result there -- either way with both slightly ahead of Clemson in the standings -- guarantees that the Tigers (9-5 ACC) can clinch a top-4 seed and a double-bye by sweeping dates at Syracuse Wednesday (5 p.m./ACCN/No. 61 KenPom) and at home with Pitt Saturday (noon/RSN/No. 8 KenPom) based on win percentage. North Carolina (9-5) is right there if the Tigers were to stumble this week and wrap their slate at Syracuse Monday and then Duke on Saturday. The Hokies (9-4) finish their regular season at NC State and Louisville (8-4) hosts Virginia on Saturday.

Clemson NCAA Tourney profile

Record: 15-5

NET: 34

KenPom: 38

Strength of schedule: 14

Non-conference SOS: 78

Record vs. Quadrant 1 teams*: 4-5 (wins over NET No. 7 Alabama, No. 15 FSU, No. 21 Purdue and No. 29 Maryland)

Quadrant 3 or 4 losses: None.

* 1-30 NET teams at home, 1-50 at neutral sites, 1-75 in away games.

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