Clemson men’s basketball has had a roller coaster of a season, with peaking highs and hard-fought lows. The Tigers now return to Littlejohn Coliseum for a Senior Day matchup with postseason implications looming.
Clemson has come back down to earth in recent weeks after starting the season 16-3 and opening ACC play with six consecutive wins. The Tigers suffered a pivotal home loss to NC State and, despite bouncing back with four straight victories, struggled this past month, losing four consecutive games against ACC opponents and falling in the standings.
Now sitting at 21-8 overall and 11-6 in conference play, Clemson looks to rebound again as it prepares for its final home game of the regular season. For several members of the Tigers’ roster, Saturday will mark the final appearance at Littlejohn Coliseum of their collegiate careers.
During the offseason, head coach Brad Brownell dramatically restructured the roster, bringing in six transfers and six freshmen, including two redshirts, while returning just one player from last year’s team: senior guard Dillon Hunter. Despite turnover, the Tigers have surpassed regular-season expectations and remain firmly in the conversation for postseason play.
On Saturday, Clemson will honor its five-member senior class — guards Dillon Hunter, Jestin Porter and Butta Johnson and forwards RJ Godfrey and Nick Davidson — with a pregame ceremony before tipping off in a critical ACC matchup against Georgia Tech. With March approaching and tournament positioning at stake, the Tigers will look to send their senior class out of Littlejohn Coliseum on a high note.
Georgia Tech, 2-15 ACC, 11-19, has struggled throughout the season and sits last in the conference standings through 30 games. The Yellow Jackets average 73.7 points per game while allowing 72.1. Clemson won the previous matchup between the teams, 77-63, in January, and will try to replicate that success Saturday afternoon.
Clemson enters the game ranked fifth in the ACC standings and can lock in the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament if it wins. That result would set up a first game at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Not only would a win solidify Clemson’s position in the ACC tournament bracket, but it would provide a guaranteed bid to the big dance in March. With the tournament moving closer every day, the Tigers have an opportunity to close out their home schedule on a strong note while honoring a senior class that has helped guide the team through one of the ACC’s most competitive seasons.
For those in attendance on Saturday, say it loud and proud: go Tigers!
