Can Clemson finally end 0-58 streak at North Carolina?

It is a stat that is well documented.

Clemson has never defeated North Carolina in men’s basketball in Chapel Hill.

The Tigers are 0-58 all-time, coming close on several occasions but never being able to put an end to the streak.

Clemson will get its first opportunity since Dec. 30, 2015 on Tuesday night when the teams meet at 7 p.m. in the Dean Smith Center. Could this be the year?

“Yea, of course,” Tigers senior forward Donte Grantham said. “Anything is possible with this team. It makes me mad that people are leaving us out, but we’re going to prove people wrong.”

If No. 20 Clemson is going to upset No. 15 UNC it will likely have to rely on its veterans. The Tigers start a pair of seniors and three juniors.

Three of Clemson’s starters are transfers who have never played for the Tigers at UNC, but they have played in other tough road venues and Clemson coach Brad Brownell expects that experience to help.

“I think the more times you’re in those kinds of environments, I think the better. It’s different,” Brownell said. “The first time you walk in when you’re a freshman you’re going to look around for a while. You hope that once the game gets going you’re not looking around still because if you’re looking around it’s not going to go good.”

Grantham and fellow senior Gabe DeVoe were on the last team to have a chance to win at UNC. The Tar Heels prevailed, 80-69.

“I think just the history, you know, Michael Jordan, just the players that played at Carolina, just the Carolina blue… especially for guys that haven’t been there, just to go up there and see the banners and Vince Carter and the special players that’s in the NBA and Hall of Fame players,” Grantham said. “So once you get past that point, it’s just a regular game.”

This story was originally published January 15, 2018 at 6:03 PM with the headline "Can Clemson finally end 0-58 streak at North Carolina?."