Clemson athletic director Graham Neff reacts to basketball team’s struggles
Clemson men’s basketball has fallen on some hard times recently, losing six of its nine games in the new year and spending the last month unranked in The Associated Press Top 25.
But thanks to a rigorous non-conference schedule and a number of big wins in November and December, the Tigers remain firmly in contention for an NCAA Tournament bid in March.
That has Clemson athletic director Graham Neff feeling optimistic.
Speaking at Clemson’s winter quarterly board of trustees meeting in North Charleston, Neff gave a positive evaluation of both of the school’s basketball programs as they enter the final two months of the regular season.
The men’s team, led by coach Brad Brownell, is 14-7 and sits 11th out of 15 ACC teams with a 4-6 conference record. The women’s team, led by coach Amanda Butler, is 11-12 and 4-7 in the ACC, which also puts them at No. 11 out of 15 teams.
“Flipping into February, there’s a lot of ball left,” Neff told The State last Friday. “And I think both teams are playing really well.”
Heading into a Tuesday night game at No. 3 North Carolina, the Clemson men’s basketball team has gone just 3-6 over its last nine games after an 11-1 start to the 2023-24 season. That includes three recent ACC losses to Georgia Tech, then-No. 12 Duke and Virginia (on Saturday at home) by a combined five points.
But the Tigers remain positioned well in the NET rankings, one of the top metrics used by the tournament selection committee to help determine the field.
Clemson is currently No. 37 in those rankings, with a solid 6-6 record in Quadrant 1 and 2 games (including a home win over No. 15 South Carolina, which has quickly become its best win all season, and a road win at No. 22 Alabama).
Perhaps more importantly, they’re a combined 8-1 in Quadrant 3 and 4 games. That’s a crucial record for a Clemson team that was among the first four teams out of last year’s tournament field despite a 23-11 record, primarily because of a handful of unsightly Quadrant 3 and 4 losses.
“We’ve gotta continue to improve in (the) ACC on the men’s side,” Neff said. “I know Coach Brownell’s had some points on narrative and NET and rankings. And that’s something for us, as ADs, that we’ve talked about significantly.”
Clemson is seeking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2020-21 and fourth in 13 full seasons under Brownell (excluding the 2020 postseason, which was canceled due to COVID-19). Neff, who’s in his third year as AD, has publicly said making the tournament will “always” be an expectation.
Despite the team’s recent slide, computer simulations from the website TeamRankings.com give the Tigers a 98% chance to make the field as of Monday.
“I’m excited where Clemson men’s hoops is positioned and what our opportunities are for the month ahead and into postseason play,” Neff said. “And just like the squad a lot, where we sit as we flip into February.”
As for Clemson women’s basketball: The Tigers have hit a mid-season hot streak, winning three straight ACC games against Wake Forest, Boston College and Virginia (on the road on Sunday) to move from 1-7 to 4-7 in the ACC, arguably the country’s top conference. Five teams are ranked this week, and two more received votes.
Clemson is seeking its second NCAA Tournament appearance in six seasons under coach Amanda Butler after the team went 19-16 last year and reached the WNIT Super 16. Dating back to 2002-03, Butler’s 2018-19 team is the only Clemson women’s squad to reach the tournament.
“On the women’s side, strong start to ACC from an opponent standpoint,” Neff said. “ACC women’s basketball is as good as there is. … So, yeah, I think there’s a lot left to play as we get into February and March.”
Next four Clemson MBB games
- Tuesday Feb. 6: at No. 3 North Carolina, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
- Saturday Feb. 10: at Syracuse, noon (ESPN2)
- Wednesday Feb. 14: vs. Miami, 7 p.m. (ESPN2/U)
- Saturday Feb. 17: vs. NC State, 7:45 p.m. (The CW)
