Clemson, ACC basketball update in Week 9 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

1 day ago7 min read

Clemson’s men’s basketball team is heading into ACC play with a bit of that classic late-December momentum, the kind that makes you start checking the schedule for potential Quad 1 wins. They wrapped their non-conference slate with a 68-65 win over Cincinnati in Greenville, a game that was a microcosm of their season so far: flashes of brilliance followed by a white-knuckle finish.Let’s be real, building a 27-point lead in the first half only to need a RJ Godfrey layup and four clutch free throws from senior guard Dillon Hunter in the final 15 seconds to seal it? That’s the kind of drama that either builds character or gives the coaching staff heartburn, probably both. The victory over the Bearcats capped a three-game win streak that also included a solid in-state rivalry win against South Carolina and a tune-up against Mercer, pushing the Tigers to a 10-3 record as they pack their bags for the cold of upstate New York.Their ACC opener is a New Year’s Eve matinee at the JMA Wireless Dome against Syracuse, a 2 p. m.tip on ESPN2 that feels like a perfect way to ring in 2026—either with a bang or a reality check. The broader context here is that the ACC, as usual, is a gauntlet, and for a team like Clemson that’s hovering on the bubble of national recognition, every conference game is a referendum on their tournament resume.The latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, released this Monday, tells the story of a team knocking on the door. Clemson remains unranked, but they picked up six votes for top-25 consideration, which is tied for the fifth-most among teams outside the rankings.That’s a notable jump from the single vote they received a week ago, a sign that pollsters are noticing the wins, even if the near-collapse against Cincinnati raised some eyebrows. It’s a subtle nudge, the kind of incremental respect that comes from stacking wins in a tough non-conference schedule that included an overtime thriller against Georgia and close losses to quality opponents like Alabama and BYU.Within the ACC landscape, Duke continues to be the conference's standard-bearer, sitting pretty at No. 5 nationally with an 11-1 record.They’re joined in the poll by Louisville at No. 13, North Carolina holding steady at No.12, and Virginia sliding in at No. 21.That’s four ranked teams, a number that doesn’t even include the usual suspects like Miami or Wake Forest who could pop up any given week. For Clemson, the path to joining that club is clear: start winning these league games.Historical precedent isn't exactly on their side; they’ve often been a tough out but haven’t consistently been a powerhouse in the ACC. However, under Coach Brad Brownell, they’ve shown they can punch above their weight, and this year’s squad, led by veterans like PJ Hall and the emerging backcourt, has the pieces to be more than just a spoiler.

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