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Clemson Struggles, Wake Forest Surges Ahead of ACC Matchup
Clemson falls out of Top 25 after back-to-back losses, while Wake Forest looks to build on recent wins
Feb. 21, 2026 at 1:23am
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Clemson and Wake Forest are heading in opposite directions as they prepare to face off in a key ACC matchup. Clemson has lost two straight games, causing them to fall out of the AP Top 25, while Wake Forest has won back-to-back games to halt their recent skid. The Demon Deacons are looking to remain out of the bottom three spots in the ACC standings and secure a spot in next month's conference tournament.
Why it matters
This game is an important one for both teams as they jockey for position in the ACC standings. Clemson was previously ranked and is still in third place, but their recent struggles have them looking to get back on track. Wake Forest, meanwhile, is hoping to build on their recent success and climb up the conference rankings.
The details
Clemson has lost to Virginia Tech and Duke in their last two games, causing them to fall out of the Top 25. The Tigers' offense has sputtered recently, only reaching 70 points once in their last five games. Wake Forest, on the other hand, has won back-to-back games, including a home victory over Stanford. Sophomore guard Juke Harris has led the way for the Demon Deacons, averaging 26 points per game over the last four contests.
- Clemson and Wake Forest will face off on Wednesday night in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The players
Brad Brownell
The head coach of the Clemson Tigers basketball team.
Steve Forbes
The head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons basketball team.
Juke Harris
The sophomore guard for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons who has been leading the team in scoring over the last four games.
RJ Godfrey
The Clemson Tigers player who has the team's highest scoring average at 11.6 points per game, though he has only scored more than 10 points twice in the last nine games.
Carter Welling
The Clemson Tigers player who scored a team-high 12 points in their loss to Duke on Saturday.
What they’re saying
“Don't forget who we are and why we've had success. And we have to defend at a high level, and we've got to continue to play as a team. I'm proud of this group.”
— Brad Brownell, Clemson Head Coach
“I'm tired of us losing at home. The fans deserve better.”
— Steve Forbes, Wake Forest Head Coach
“Everybody's coming at him. They're being physical.”
— Steve Forbes, Wake Forest Head Coach
What’s next
The winner of this matchup will take an important step towards securing a higher seed in the upcoming ACC tournament.
The takeaway
This game showcases the contrasting fortunes of two ACC programs, with Clemson looking to regain their footing after a tough stretch, while Wake Forest aims to build on their recent success and climb the conference standings.
