Clemson Basketball Drops in NET Rankings After Loss to Wake Forest

The Tigers have lost three straight games, putting their postseason positioning in jeopardy.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Clemson's men's basketball team has lost three consecutive games, including an 85-77 defeat against Wake Forest on Wednesday night. The losses have caused the Tigers to slide in the latest NET rankings, dropping them to No. 33 overall. Clemson now faces a critical stretch with upcoming games against North Carolina and Louisville, as they look to regain momentum and solidify their NCAA Tournament standing.

Why it matters

Clemson's recent struggles have put their postseason hopes in a precarious position. The Tigers need to find a way to stop the slide and pick up some key wins down the stretch to ensure they remain in good position for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Clemson's loss to Wake Forest on Wednesday night was their third straight defeat, dropping them to 20-7 overall and 10-4 in ACC play. The Tigers now sit in fourth place in the conference standings, with North Carolina and Louisville right behind them. Clemson's résumé still looks respectable, with a 4-5 record in Quad 1 games, but the margin for error is shrinking. The Tigers will need to rebound quickly, starting with a home game against Florida State on Saturday.

  • Clemson lost to Wake Forest on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.
  • Clemson's next game is against Florida State on Saturday, February 22, 2026.

The players

Brad Brownell

Clemson's head basketball coach.

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What they’re saying

“Clemson's struggles continued on Wednesday night in Winston-Salem, as the Tigers dropped their third straight game with an 85-77 loss to Wake Forest.”

— Alexander Turri, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

Clemson will look to stop their three-game losing streak when they host Florida State on Saturday, February 22, 2026.

The takeaway

Clemson's recent losses have put their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy, and the Tigers will need to quickly regain their form in order to secure a spot in the Big Dance. Their upcoming games against North Carolina and Louisville will be crucial in determining their postseason positioning.