UNC Hosts Clemson on Senior Night Seeking Perfect Home Record

No. 17 Tar Heels look to cap undefeated home season, secure higher ACC Tournament seed

Mar. 2, 2026 at 6:55pm

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No. 17 North Carolina (23-6, 11-5 ACC) hosts Clemson (21-8, 11-5 ACC) on Tuesday night in a key ACC matchup with major postseason implications. The Tar Heels are a perfect 17-0 at home this season and can set a new single-season record for home wins with a victory over the Tigers. Both teams are tied for fourth in the ACC standings, so the outcome could determine the final double-bye spot in the conference tournament.

Why it matters

This game has significant implications for both teams' NCAA Tournament seeding as well as the final ACC Tournament standings. UNC is looking to cap an undefeated home season and secure a higher seed, while Clemson is trying to bounce back after a rough stretch in February to improve its postseason position.

The details

North Carolina is led by junior center Henri Veesaar, who is coming off a career-high 26 points in the Tar Heels' win over Virginia Tech. Clemson relies on its stifling defense, which ranks second in the ACC in points allowed per game, but has struggled offensively at times this season. The Tigers have not had a player score 20 points in a game more than twice this year.

  • The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill.
  • UNC is 17-0 at home this season, tying a single-season school record for home wins.

The players

Henri Veesaar

A junior center for North Carolina who is averaging 16.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

Brad Brownell

The 16th-year head coach of the Clemson Tigers, who has led the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances in the last three seasons.

RJ Godfrey

Clemson's leading scorer at 11.5 points per game, though the Tigers lack a true go-to offensive option.

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What they’re saying

“(Clemson) has a huge emphasis on scoring points in the paint through post and penetration. They do a great job of utilizing their bigs around the basket to be able to score.”

— Hubert Davis, UNC Head Coach

“There's not a lot different in how they play and what they're trying to do (without Caleb Wilson). They're still very talented, doing a great job, and have had some good wins without him already.”

— Brad Brownell, Clemson Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of Tuesday's game will likely secure the No. 4 seed and the final double-bye in the ACC Tournament. Additionally, UNC's NCAA Tournament seeding could be impacted by the outcome.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the ACC's top teams will have major implications for both programs' postseason aspirations. UNC is seeking to cap an undefeated home season, while Clemson looks to bounce back from a rough stretch and improve its NCAA Tournament positioning.