Clemson's ACC Tournament history, 2014-23 (7th decade).

Mar 9, 2023, 11:14 AM

After a couple of very disappointing seasons, Brad Brownell's job was in jeopardy starting the 2014 season. As would become a pattern, whenever he appeared to be on the hot seat, his team would respond with a better year.

2014: 6th of 15: 1st round Bye, 2nd round OT WIN over Georgia Tech 69-65, Quarterfinals loss to Duke 63-62. Season record 23-13, 10-8 ACC. ACC basketball prestige had already taken a hit at this point, because in past years, winning 20 games AND having a winning conference record in the ACC would have gotten us a Big Dance invite. Instead, we only got an NIT invite. Clemson WON in the 1st round over Georgia State 78-66, and in the 2nd round over Illinois 50-49. Clemson won again in the Quarterfinals over Belmont 73-68. But, the run came to an end in the Semifinals, as the Tigers went down against SMU 65-59.

2015: 8th of 14 (Syracuse did not compete due to a self imposed post season ban for NCAA infractions.) 1st round Bye, 2nd round loss to Florida State 76-73. Season record 16-15, 8-10 ACC.

2016: 7th of 14: (Louisvill did not compete due to a self imposed post season ban for NCAA infractions.) 1st round Bye, 2nd round upset OT loss to Georgia Tech 88-85. Season record 17-14, 10-8 ACC.

2017: 12th of 15: 1st round WIN over NC State 75-61, 2nd round loss to Duke 79-72. Season record 17-16, 6-12 ACC. To show just how far the NIT had fallen by this point due to expansion of the NCAA Tournament to 68 teams, this barely 0.500 overall record got Clemson an NIT invite, where we lost in the 1st round to Oakland 74-69. Rumors began to swirl again about Brad Brownell's future, so, what would happen the next year?

2018: 4th of 15: Clemson snagged one of the coveted Double Byes by virtue of our 4th place regular season finish. In the Quarterfinals, we WON over Boston College 90-82, then lost to Virginia 64-58 in the Semifinals. Season record 25-10, 11-7 ACC. This earned the Tigers a Big Dance invite to the Midwest Regional, where we WON in the 1st round over New Mexico State 79-68, WON in the 2nd round over Auburn 84-53, then lost to Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen 80-76. This season got Coach Brownell a six year contract extension and raises.

2019: 9th of 15: 1st round Bye, 2nd round loss to NC State 59-58, season record 20-14, 9-9 ACC. This earned the Tigers only an NIT bid, where in the 1st round Clemson WON over Wright State 75-69, before falling in the 2nd round to Wichita State 63-55.

2020: 8th of 14: (Georgia Tech banned from postseason by NCAA.) 1st round Bye, 2nd round WIN over Miami 74-69. Just before the next round was due to start, the tournament, and the rest of the basketball season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

2021: 5th of 15: 1st round Bye, 2nd round loss to Miami 67-64. Season record 16-8, 10-6 ACC. In a year where a bunch of games were cancelled due to Covid, Clemson got a Big Dance invite. but lost in the 1st round of the Midwest Regional to Rutgers 60-56.

2022: 10th of 15: 1st round WIN over NC State 70-64, 2nd round OT loss to Virginia Tech 76-75, season record 17-16, 8-12 ACC.

2023: 3rd of 15: Clemson secured one of the coveted Double Byes, and will play NC State in the Quarterfinals at 9:30 pm tonight. (It will almost certainly start later than that, since there are three other games ahead of us. Late night tonight, for shore.) Bracket Proctologists proclaim that we must win not only tonight, but at least two games to have a shot at the Big Dance. Butt, you can't win two until you win ONE first. Go, Tigers, Stomp the Wuffies!