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Clemson Basketball

CBS Bracket Preview Show predicts Clemson a #3 seed in Midwest Region

February 11, 2018
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One month ahead of the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, CBS presented its second annual March Madness Bracket Preview show Sunday afternoon.

Bruce Rasmussen, chairman of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee joined the show to break down the top 16 seeds and where they stand. He and his colleagues were on a teleconference Saturday night until after midnight making sure their list was finalized.

The current top 16 seeds were revealed, and Clemson was ranked as the top three seed overall in the bracket. 

 

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Clemson was placed as a #3 seed in the Midwest Region.

Virginia, the No. 1 overall seed as it stands, Duke, and North Carolina rounded out the rest of the ACC teams in the top 16. 

A three-seed would be the highest seeding for Clemson in school history.

Last year's inaugural Bracket Preview show correctly predicted 15 of the top 16 teams on Selection Sunday in 2017.

"The one major change is we do a better job of recognizing games away from home," Rasmussen said.

Clemson's 14-point victory on the road over the Ohio State Buckeyes may be its best win of the season so far. Ohio State is currently No. 14 and 20-5 on the season.

If the prediction holds true, the Tigers will travel to Omaha, Nebraska instead of Atlanta or Boston because there are already ACC teams ahead of them in those regionals (Virginia in Atlanta, Duke in Boston). Omaha is 1,100 miles from Clemson's campus.

For some strange coincidence, Brad Brownell joined the show once his team's name was announced and he was asked his initial reaction to the projection.

"It would be great in three weeks if we were a three seed," Brownell said. "We really wouldn't mind where we went. Really proud of our guys and the way we have played this year. We got off to a great start and certainly have a little work left to finish."

Clemson losing Donte Grantham to a season-ending knee injury at home against Miami hasn't stopped the Tigers from stepping up and playing capable basketball. Brownell updated his progress after surgery.

"Donte is a terrific young man, and you hate for any senior's season to end the way his did with an ACL tear a couple weeks ago," Brownell said. "He's progressing nicely, just finished his surgery, and is on the mend. He has a great basketball future ahead of him.

"Our success this year - or consistency - is I think we have experienced guards. We have three guys on the perimeter that are experienced players, and those guys are playing at a high level."
- Brad Brownell on his team's consistency

The first name Brownell mentioned was Gabe DeVoe, who has averaged just under 23 points in his last four games. His senior leadership and the play of the veteran guards have propelled Clemson to a higher level down the stretch.

The top four seeds in the Midwest Region are Xavier, Auburn, Clemson, and Oklahoma. The Tigers would have played the Tigers from Alabama in the Charleston Classic final back in November if Auburn had not lost to Temple in the semifinals. 

The two could see each other again if they both make it to the second weekend of the tournament.

If the projections hold, the ACC would have eight teams in the NCAA Tournament. Clemson would face 14-seed Rider in the round of 64 in Omaha and could face the winner of Wichita State-Middle Tennessee in the second round.

Clemson has a tough final stretch of the season coming up, but it has to feel satisfied with its tournament drought most likely coming to a close.

 
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