Clemson basketball confronted its share of critics after making the NCAA event for the primary time since 2021.
Sixth-seeded Clemson (22-11) silenced these doubters with its 77-56 victory over No. 11 seed New Mexico (26-10) Friday at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, that noticed the Tigers get well their much-needed edge. The critics got here because the Lobos (26-10) entered successful 4 straight to take the Mountain West event, and Clemson was coming off a poor outing towards Boston Faculty within the second spherical of the ACC event on March 13.
Guard Chase Hunter, who scored two factors and shot 0-for-10 within the convention event, used his earlier efficiency and the doubters to gas Clemson’s first round-of-64 win since 2018.
“I felt like I let my staff down (within the ACC event). I let the entire college down, to be sincere,” he mentioned. “However coming into this event, I used to be fired up.”
Hunter scored a season-high 21 factors, capturing 8-for-16 from the sector. He was an excessive amount of for New Mexico defenders to deal with, making acrobatic layups and scoring midrange jumpers. He additionally discovered his teammates, getting six assists — his most since Feb. 21 vs. Georgia Tech.
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The Georgia native is a giant a part of the Tigers’ hopes of a sustained run in March Insanity. When he struggles like he did towards Boston Faculty, the staff — particularly its offense — is out of kinds. His playmaking, scoring and protection are important for Clemson.
“He wished to play very nicely, and he was heartbroken, disillusioned (after the ACC event loss),” Clemson coach Brad Brownell mentioned. “I am completely happy for him and never stunned in any respect that he bounced again and performed the way in which he did.”
The Tigers confirmed up defensively after permitting not less than 75 factors of their previous three video games. They contained the Lobos — a staff that led the Mountain West in scoring with 81.7 factors per sport — to a season-low 56 factors. Clemson restricted their main scorers, Jaelen Home and Jamal Mashburn Jr., to a mixed 18 factors. The 2 had mixed for 49 within the Mountain West event championship.
Clemson compelled 13 turnovers and scored 19 factors off them. Its gamers had been energetic on protection, recording 4 blocks and 7 steals and holding New Mexico to 29.7% capturing from the sector.
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“Simply good, powerful, collectively groups win,” Brownell mentioned. “It is humorous, I wrote it on my marker board at halftime once more to remind our guys [that] good, powerful, collectively groups win.”
This good, powerful, collectively staff’s 21-point margin of victory is its second-largest in NCAA event competitors in program historical past. Coming into Friday’s matchup, Brownell did not imagine his staff performed poorly because it was made out to be regardless of shedding three out of its earlier 4. He emphasised to his gamers to get again into their November and December mindset and eradicate outdoors distractions.
Clemson looked for these early-season vibes throughout ACC play earlier this season and received three straight. The staff might have discovered them once more and can want it for the second-round sport Sunday towards third-seeded Baylor, a staff that beat No. 14 seed Colgate soundly 92-67.
Making the NCAA event wasn’t the objective for Clemson, as a result of it has the makings to succeed in the Closing 4 for the primary time in program historical past.
“Going into this event, we knew that wasn’t a objective of ours, to get to the event,” PJ Corridor mentioned. “That was an expectation.”
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville Information and the USA TODAY Community. E mail him at dcarter@gannett.com and comply with him on X, previously often known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00