The Clemson Tigers head into the 2025-26 college basketball season looking to do something no Clemson basketball team has done in 15 years.
Coach Brad Brownell is hoping to send the Tigers to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Clemson has accomplished that feat only two other times in school history, most recently from 2008-11.
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Monday saw the release of the preseason AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. Clemson was unranked in the top 25, and the Tigers received no votes for top 25 consideration.
It’s not surprising, given how much talent Clemson lost from its 2024-25 team. The Tigers are replacing virtually their entire starting lineup. Guards Chase Hunter and Jaeden Zackery and big men Ian Schieffelin and Viktor Lakhin are out of eligibility. Forward Chauncey Wiggins transferred to Florida State.
Clemson’s 2025-26 roster includes only one returning player with experience from last year’s team: senior guard Dillon Hunter, the younger brother of Chase Hunter. Senior forward RJ Godfrey, who transferred to Georgia for one season, is back at Clemson.
The Tigers brought back Godfrey and added guards Butta Johnson (UAB) and Jestin Porter (Middle Tennessee) via the transfer portal. Forwards Jake Wahlin (Utah), Nick Davidson (Nevada) and Carter Welling (Utah Valley) also joined Clemson from the transfer portal.
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Brownell is entering his 16th season as Clemson coach. The Tigers finished 27-7 overall and 18-2 in ACC play during the regular season in 2024-25. They earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament but fell to 12th-seeded McNeese State in a first-round upset in Providence, Rhode Island.
Led by No. 6 Duke, the ACC had three teams ranked in the preseason AP top 25 men’s college basketball. Here’s a look at the full 1-25 rankings.
AP Top 25 Men’s Basketball Poll
|
Rank |
Team |
|---|---|
|
1. |
Purdue Boilermarkers |
|
2. |
Houston Cougars |
|
3. |
Florida Gators |
|
4. |
UConn Huskies |
|
5. |
St. John’s Red Storm |
|
6. |
Duke Blue Devils |
|
7. |
Michigan Wolverines |
|
8. |
BYU Cougars |
|
9. |
Kentucky Wildcats |
|
10. |
Texas Tech Red Raiders |
|
11. |
Louisville Cardinals |
|
12. |
UCLA Bruins |
|
13. |
Arizona Wildcats |
|
14. |
Arkansas Razorbacks |
|
15. |
Alabama Crimson Tide |
|
16. |
Iowa State Cyclones |
|
17. |
Illinois Fighting Illini |
|
18. |
Tennessee Volunteers |
|
19. |
Kansas Jayhawks |
|
20. |
Auburn Tigers |
|
21. |
Gonzaga Bulldogs |
|
22. |
Michigan State Spartans |
|
23. |
Creighton Bluejays |
|
24. |
Wisconsin Badgers |
|
25. |
North Carolina Tar Heels |
Clemson basketball ACC schedule 2025-26
Mar 8, 2025; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Head Coach Brad Brownell watches his team play Virginia Tech during the first half at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C Saturday, March 8, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Here’s a look at the Clemson Tigers‘ full 2025-26 mens basketball schedule with announced dates.
|
DATE |
OPPONENT |
|
Nov. 3 |
New Hampshire |
|
Nov. 7 |
Gardner-Webb |
|
Nov. 11 |
Morehead State |
|
Nov. 15 |
at Georgetown |
|
Nov. 17 |
North Alabama |
|
Nov. 21 |
vs. West Virginia (Charleston, S.C.) |
|
Nov. 23 |
vs. Georgia or Xavier (Charleston, S.C.) |
|
Nov. 28 |
Alabama A&M |
|
Dec. 3 |
at Alabama |
|
Dec. 9 |
vs. BYU (Madison Square Garden) |
|
Dec. 13 |
Mercer |
|
Dec. 16 |
South Carolina |
|
Dec. 21 |
vs. Cincinnati (Greenville, S.C.) |
|
Dec. 31 |
at Syracuse |
|
Jan. 3 |
at Pitt |
|
Jan. 7 |
SMU |
|
Jan. 10 |
at Notre Dame |
|
Jan. 13 |
Boston College |
|
Jan. 17 |
Miami |
|
Jan. 20 |
NC State |
|
Jan. 24 |
at Georgia Tech |
|
Jan. 31 |
Pitt |
|
Feb. 4 |
at Stanford |
|
Feb. 7 |
at Cal |
|
Feb. 11 |
Virginia Tech |
|
Feb. 14 |
at Duke |
|
Feb. 18 |
at Wake Forest |
|
Feb. 21 |
Florida State |
|
Feb. 28 |
Louisville |
|
March 3 |
at North Carolina |
|
March 7 |
Georgia Tech |
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: AP Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll revealed
