Clemson Falls to Duke in ACC Semifinal

Tigers' tournament run ends despite strong effort from RJ Godfrey

Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:33pm

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The Clemson Tigers' conference tournament run came to an end with a double-digit loss to the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament semifinals. RJ Godfrey scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, but Clemson's offense struggled against Duke's size and versatility, finishing just 7-for-25 from 3-point range.

Why it matters

Despite the loss, Clemson's ACC Tournament performance was a success, as the Tigers picked up a Quad 2 win over Wake Forest and a Quad 1A win over North Carolina. The team is projected to land a 7 or 8 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, proving they can compete with the best teams in the conference.

The details

Clemson's lack of size compared to Duke's versatile wings made it difficult for the Tigers to attack mismatches and switches. Outside shooting, which had carried the team in previous wins, disappointed as Clemson shot just 28% from 3-point range. However, RJ Godfrey continued his strong play, scoring efficiently inside and drawing fouls.

  • Clemson's conference season came to an end in the ACC Tournament semifinals on March 14, 2026.

The players

RJ Godfrey

Clemson forward who scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in the loss to Duke.

Brad Brownell

Clemson's head coach who must continue to game plan creatively for the NCAA Tournament given the team's lack of perimeter height.

Duke Blue Devils

The No. 1-ranked team that defeated Clemson in the ACC Tournament semifinals, boasting one of the top defenses in the nation.

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What they’re saying

“I just wanted to be aggressive. I scored some points off of offensive rebounds. They're a really good defense, probably the number one defense in the ACC, but I want to give credit to our position coaches. They pour into us. Carlos Dotson and Coach [Dick] Bender. Coach Bender has been one of the best coaches I've ever had in my life. Trusting the work, trusting the moves, film sessions too. I was able to get to my spots and make some big plays.”

— RJ Godfrey

What’s next

Clemson now turns its attention to the NCAA Tournament, where the team is projected to land a 7 or 8 seed.

The takeaway

Despite the loss to Duke, Clemson's ACC Tournament run was a success, as the team picked up quality wins over Wake Forest and North Carolina. The Tigers have proven they can compete with the best teams in the conference and will look to carry that momentum into the NCAA Tournament.