Nothing has been a more pleasant surprise this year than the Clemson basketball team.
Coming into the season the media predicted the Tigers to finish 13th in the ACC preseason poll. Fast forward to today as they get set to visit Wake Forest, and they’re 18-4 overall and tied for second in the ACC with a 7-3 conference record.
This is the hottest they’ve been in years, despite a season-ending injury to star forward Donte Grantham. Clemson basketball hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2011, but the question now isn’t will the Tigers make it, but how high will they be seeded?
First thing to look into is where the team stands in comparison to other teams. The Tigers are ranked 20th in the country and will look to move up after recent win against No. 19 UNC if they can knock off Wake Forest as well.
Being a more defensively oriented team, they stack up well with other top teams in the country. Their biggest wins so far look to be at Ohio State, at Florida, vs. Miami and vs. UNC, with only one more currently ranked team left on the upcoming schedule in Duke on Feb. 18.
The Tigers enter today’s game at Wake Forest currently ranked No. 4 in NCAA RPI rankings. Their strength of schedule is currently ranked 5th.
When it comes to where Clemson currently stands in everyone’s bracketology report, there are some varying opinions. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi currently has Clemson sitting as a three seed in the west. CBS Sports most recent update has the Tigers ranked as high as a No. 2 seed in the east.
Along with CBS Sports, Sbnation also has Clemson sitting as a two seed in the tournament. While we previously saw Clemson sitting as a No. 4 seed in most reports, they jumped higher than most expected.
The Tigers still have a tough road ahead in the ACC, with games vs. Duke, Florida State (home and away) and at Virginia Tech.
It is safe to say Clemson currently has a strong position in the tournament, with most reports having the Tigers anywhere from a No. 2 to a No. 3 seed.
When it comes down to it, it is tough to pick out exactly where Clemson will land this far from the tournament. With eight games left and the ACC Tournament as well, there is still room for some big wins and a couple of losses as well. The Tigers’ current resume has been impressive enough giving them a higher ceiling than many would have thought possible. It also gives them room for a collapse, especially without Grantham.
If the season were to end right now, Clemson would be in a good position with their impressive wins and the overall strength of the ACC.