CLEMSON, S.C. — On Monday, Clemson re-entered the national rankings, claiming the 23rd spot. Just hours later, the Tigers demonstrated their intent to remain a significant competitor in the season by decisively defeating another ACC heavyweight, North Carolina, with an 85-65 victory. This win followed their impressive 77-71 triumph over then-No. 2 Duke, highlighting their potential on the national stage.
Viktor Lakhin, a forward who transferred from Cincinnati, expressed pride in his team after contributing 22 points, including a season-high of four three-pointers. He emphasized the team’s strong performance during the first half, as they surged ahead to a comfortable 49-33 lead. Lakhin, who also netted 22 points against Duke, shared his commitment to the team’s ongoing success, stating, “What we’re doing, we’re obviously not done yet,” referring to his hopes of continuing the momentum established by last season’s achievements.
The previous season saw the Tigers, led by forward PJ Hall and former Syracuse sharpshooter Joe Girard III, make an impressive Elite Eight run. They secured victories over teams like New Mexico, Baylor, and Arizona before narrowly losing to Alabama. With Hall now pursuing a career in the NBA and Girard having exhausted his eligibility, Tigers coach Brad Brownell has skillfully integrated Lakhin and Boston College transfer Jaeden Zackery into the squad, complimenting their top scorer, Chase Hunter.
In the recent clash against the Tar Heels, Hunter scored 19 points while Zackery added 16, pushing Clemson’s record to 20-5 for the season. This marks Brownell’s third consecutive season with at least 20 wins. With a solid conference record of 12-2, Clemson finds itself just one game behind the ACC’s leading Duke and tied in losses with an unexpectedly competitive Louisville team.
Zackery, pleased with the team’s return to the AP Top 25, stressed that their primary focus remains on future challenges rather than outside recognition. His take on the team’s mindset was clear: “We know there’s a whole thing that we weren’t in it. People were mad about it. But we don’t really care about that. We just come out and just prove ourselves every night.”
Maintaining their focus after a high-profile win against Duke, the Tigers delivered an impressive performance against North Carolina. They dominated the boards, outrebounding the Tar Heels 41-28 and exerting a 15-10 advantage on offensive rebounds. Hubert Davis, the coach for North Carolina, acknowledged their struggle with keeping Clemson off the offensive glass and their failure to capitalize on their own offensive opportunities.
Brownell appreciated the recognition that comes from being ranked and was pleased with his team’s display against North Carolina. The return to the rankings serves as a testament to the team’s hard work and progress. Although Clemson held a ranking in December, they fell out of the Top 25 after close overtime losses to Memphis and rival South Carolina.
Lakhin is optimistic that the team will continue its winning streak. Boasting eight victories out of their last nine games as the season enters its critical phase, he couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Clemson’s notable wins over traditional powerhouses like Kentucky, Duke, and North Carolina. “We’re blue bloods, too, now,” he declared, reinforcing the team’s rising status in college basketball.
Within the final stretch of the season, the Tigers are poised to prove their mettle and solidify their place amongst the elite in the world of college basketball.
