Last year’s run to the Elite Eight was huge for the Clemson basketball program on a multitude of fronts.

First and foremost, that kind of success, and the national exposure that comes along with it, helps tremendously on the recruiting trail. Head coach Brad Brownell’s last recruiting class ranked inside of the Top 25 and included guard Zac Foster, one of the five highest-rated recruits signed in program history.

Then there’s the impact it can have in the transfer portal. Brownell has been masterful at adding pieces via the portal, and last offseason was no exception. Viktor Lakhin and Jaeden Zackery were both added, with each playing vital roles this season.

Brownell is now hoping for a similar run this time around. With the Tigers set to lose Chase Hunter, Lakhin and quite possibly Zackery, the head coach will once again have to be active in the portal.

“I think it helped in recruiting, certainly the transfer portal,” Brownell said. “We had some success. We went to a Sweet 16 back in ’18 and have been competitive in our league, but making another run like that in the NCAA Tournament, high visibility, high exposure at exactly the right time and the portal is opening and all the things you’re dealing with.”

That run a season ago, with the team coming up just shy of the program’s first-ever Final Four, has also fueled this group all season long.

“It’s also been really good for this year’s team,” Brownell said. “Guys knowing what they’re playing for, Chase and Ian especially. Chauncey Wiggins, Dillon Hunter, guys who were part of last year’s run.”

The Tigers set new school records for wins in a season (27), ACC wins (18) and win percentage (.900) and ACC road wins (9). They finished the regular season with a school record eight consecutive ACC victories.

The next step would be advancing beyond the Elite Eight for the first time ever, and this team has certainly proved they’re capable of putting together that kind of run.

“That kind of success fuels you and you want to continue to do it,” Brownell said. “You want to be in big-time games and play significant games in March, and I think it helped grow our team and fuel our team a little bit throughout the course of the season.”

The No. 5 seed Tigers will open up the NCAA Tournament on Thursday against No. 12 seed McNeese. Clemson is currently a 7.5-point favorite to move on to the second round. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:15 p.m.