Clemson’s Shocking Surge in NET and KenPom Rankings After Georgia Tech Upset — What It Means for Their Season

Clemson’s basketball squad has shown a real spark lately, stamping their authority in the ACC with a solid win in Atlanta this past Saturday. With the big guys, Jake Wahlin and Nick Davidson, dropping 13 points apiece, the 18th-ranked Tigers (17-4 overall, 7-1 in conference) stunned Georgia Tech 77-63 at McCamish Pavilion. This victory marked Clemson’s fourth consecutive conquest on the Yellow Jackets’ turf—a streak that’s proving hard to break. What’s even more compelling? The Tigers bounced back fiercely from an overtime loss to NC State earlier in the week, with clutch contributions from Dillon Hunter and Ace Buckner, who combined for 24 points. Clemson blasted a 3-pointer as the first half ended to take a slim lead, then stretched it out to a comfortable margin, stifling Georgia Tech’s offense by holding them to just 37 percent from the field. Despite this win, Clemson’s position in the NET rankings slipped—a curious twist given their performance—adding another layer of intrigue as the season builds momentum. With a challenging schedule ahead, including a rematch with Pittsburgh, the Tigers are navigating the ups and downs like seasoned pros, balancing offense and defense to remain a formidable force in college hoops. LEARN MORE

The Clemson Tigers got back in the win column in ACC basketball play Saturday in Atlanta.

Behind 13 points from big men Jake Wahlin and Nick Davidson, the 18th-ranked Tigers (17-4 overall, 7-1 conference) defeated Georgia Tech, 77-63, at McCamish Pavilion. It was Clemson‘s fourth straight win on the Yellow Jackets’ home court.

Dillon Hunter and Ace Buckner picked up 12 points in the win for Clemson, which rebounded from its first ACC loss of the season on Tuesday against NC State, 80-76 in overtime at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Hunter’s 3-pointer at the buzzer to close the first half gave the Tigers a 35-33 lead at intermission, and Clemson would go on to lead by as many as 16 in the game’s final 20 minutes.

The Tigers held Georgia Tech (11-9, 2-5) to 37 percent shooting from the field. After starting two of 12 from 3-point land in the game’s first 12 minutes, Clemson made seven of 12 from beyond the arc in the second half.

RJ Godfrey had nine points and four rebounds in 18 minutes after being in foul trouble for a good portion of the game. Jestin Porter and Butta Johnson had eight points apiece for the Tigers.

Clemson basketball slides in NET rankings despite beating Georgia Tech

Clemson slipped No. 31 in the latest NET rankings Sunday, down six spots from last week before its loss to NC State. The Tigers are one spot behind Saint Mary’s in the NET rankings and one spot ahead of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Clemson defeated Georgia, 97-94, in overtime back on Nov. 23 at the Charleston Classic.

A breakdown of Clemson’s win-loss résumé.

vs. Quad 1 opponents: 1-3
vs. Quad 2 opponents: 7-1
vs. Quad 3 opponents: 4-0
vs. Quad 4 opponents: 5-0

Where Clemson basketball stands in KenPom ratings after 1-1 week

Clemson is No. 30 in the KenPom ratings after Saturday’s win. The Tigers have an overall rating of +20.97, which includes a 117.6 rating on offense that’s 68th nationally. The Tigers’ 96.7 defensive rating is 15th nationally.

Clemson is one spot ahead of Texas A&M and one spot below North Carolina in the overall KenPom team ratings.

Clemson basketball schedule 2026: When do the Tigers play next?

Clemson will face the Pitt Panthers (8-12, 1-6) for the second time this season Saturday at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Tigers defeated the Panthers, 73-68, on Jan. 3 at Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh. Tipoff for Clemson-Pitt is noon ET. The game will be televised on ACC Network.

Here’s a game by game look at Clemson’s 2025-26 men’s basketball schedule.

All start times Eastern.