Clemson basketball storms into new USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll after statement wins

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Dec 3, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson celebrates a 70-66 win over Kentucky at Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

For the first time all season, coach Brad Brownell’s Clemson Tigers have surged into the Top 25 of the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, released Monday.

Clemson (9-1 overall) rose 29 spots to land at No. 16 in the Coaches Poll following their 70-66 win over Mark Pope and Kentucky Wildcats last Tuesday at Littlejohn Coliseum in the ACC-SEC Challenge. The Tigers then opened conference play on Saturday by beating the Miami Hurricanes, 65-55, in Coral Gables.

Against Kentucky, Ian Schieffelin had 11 points and a career-high 20 rebounds as the Tigers took down the fourth-ranked Wildcats to mark their latest win over a college basketball blue blood.

Clemson defeated North Carolina last season, marking only the second time in school history the Tigers had won in Chapel Hill. They beat the Arizona Wildcats in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament to reach the Elite 8 for just the second time.

The Tigers ranked one spot behind the Ole Miss Rebels at No. 15 and one spot ahead of the Oklahoma Sooners at No. 17 in Monday’s Coaches Poll.

Clemson will host the Memphis Tigers (7-2) in another big nonconference matchup this Saturday at Littlejohn. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET. The game can be seen on ESPN2.

Rick Barnes’ Tennessee Volunteers (8-0) moved to No. 1 in the poll following their 96-70 blowout win over the Syracuse Orange. The previously top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks (7-2) suffered their first losses of the season, in back to back games to the Creighton Bluejays in Omaha and the Missouri Tigers in Columbia.

Elsewhere in the top five, the Auburn Tigers (8-1) stayed at No. 2 for the second straight week, followed by the Iowa State Cyclones (7-1) at No. 3 and Marquette Golden Eagles (9-1) at No. 4. Kentucky (8-1) rounded out the top five at No. 5.

Clemson was one of only two ACC teams ranked in the Coaches…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/clemson-basketball-storms-usa-today-191802693.html

Author : Clemson Wire

Publish date : 2024-12-09 19:18:00

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