Following wins over Wake Forest and North Carolina, the Clemson men’s basketball team saw its ACC Tournament run come to an end Friday night at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., where the fifth-seeded Tigers fell to top-seeded Duke, 73 -61, in the semifinal round.

Clemson was led by senior forward RJ Godfrey, who posted team-highs with 18 points and six rebounds, while adding one block, a steal and an assist.

“I thought he was good. I’m so proud of him,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said following the game when asked about Godfrey. “He’s an improved player. What a young man. … He’s just special.”

Unprompted, after finishing his answer about Godfrey, Brownell commented on what “a privilege” it is to coach the 2025-26 Tigers — who own a 24-10 record but, for the second straight season, came one win short of making the ACC Tournament championship game.

“It’s a privilege to coach these guys,” Brownell said. “I hate it because they’re hurting. Because these guys wanted to be in the final two [of the ACC Tournament], and we’re not going to get that opportunity.”

The Tigers now await their seed on Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament. Clemson will watch the 2026 NCAA Tournament Selection Show at 6 p.m. Sunday in the Mathis Family Coliseum Club inside Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson.

In his updated bracketology, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has Clemson as a No. 8 seed (down from a No. 7 seed) after the loss to Duke.

Despite the sting of defeat felt by Clemson in the immediate aftermath of the Duke game, Brownell says Selection Sunday will be a celebration for the Tigers and what they’ve accomplished to this point during the 2025-26 campaign.

“We’re going to celebrate Sunday. I know that,” Brownell said. “We’re not on any bubble. We’ve had a hell of a year, and we’re going to have one hell of a fun Sunday.”