Clemson Basketball Faces Must-Win Against Wake Forest

Clemson looks to snap two-game skid against a Demon Deacons squad riding a win streak

Feb. 18, 2026 at 12:07pm

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Clemson travels to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest in a crucial ACC matchup. The Tigers are looking to bounce back after losing their last two games, while the Demon Deacons have won their last two. KenPom gives Clemson a 57% chance to win this game as they try to stay in the hunt for a top-four seed and double-bye in the ACC tournament.

Why it matters

This game is a must-win for Clemson as they try to avoid a third straight loss and stay in the mix for a favorable ACC tournament seed. Wake Forest, meanwhile, is looking to build on its recent success and potentially play its way into the NCAA Tournament conversation.

The details

Clemson has been led by its trio of talented big men - Godfrey, Welling, and Davidson - but the Tigers' guards have struggled in the last two losses. Wake Forest has had issues on the defensive end, particularly with allowing offensive rebounds, which could play into Clemson's strengths. The Demon Deacons will need to force turnovers and score in transition to have the best chance of pulling off the upset.

  • Clemson is looking to snap their second two-game losing streak of the year.
  • The last time they lost two straight was against BYU and Alabama, and they responded by winning nine-in-a-row.

The players

Juke Harris

Wake Forest's leading scorer, averaging 21 points per game. He is a 6'7" slasher who can also knock down 3-pointers.

Brad Brownell

Clemson's head coach, who will need to get his team's offense back on track after two poor performances.

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What they’re saying

“Defense has not been a strength of this team, particularly in conference play. That is because Wake has been dead last in ACC play in offensive rebounding % allowed.”

— Robert Reinhard, Former Blogger So Dear Editor

“Wake's best path to victory is going to have to start on defense. Wake cannot give Clemson too many additional chances on offense, because I get the sense it could be hard to keep up due to Clemson's stout defense.”

— Robert Reinhard, Former Blogger So Dear Editor

What’s next

Clemson will look to bounce back and stay in the hunt for a top-four ACC tournament seed, while Wake Forest will try to build on its recent success and potentially play its way into the NCAA Tournament conversation.

The takeaway

This game represents a pivotal moment in Clemson's season as they try to get their offense back on track, while Wake Forest will need to shore up its defensive rebounding and force turnovers to have a chance at the upset.