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Clemson Defeats Georgia Tech, But Concerns Remain
The Tigers ended the regular season with a win, but have defensive issues heading into the postseason
Published on Mar. 8, 2026
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The Clemson Tigers (22-9, 12-6 ACC) defeated conference bottom-dweller Georgia Tech 79-76 in a hard-fought game that saw 13 lead changes. Despite the win, Clemson's first-half defensive performance left much to be desired, as they allowed Georgia Tech comfortable looks and fell behind by a sizable deficit. The Tigers were able to tighten up their defense in the second half and go on a 26-11 run to secure the victory, but concerns remain about their ability to consistently contain opposing ball-handlers, which could be costly in the postseason.
Why it matters
Clemson's defensive struggles in the latter part of the season raise questions about their ability to make a deep run in the upcoming ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament. Without a dominant offense to lean on, the Tigers will need to shore up their point-of-attack defense to have success against tougher opponents.
The details
Clemson eked past Georgia Tech despite the Yellow Jackets pushing the postseason-bound Tigers. Clemson's first-half defensive performance was poor, allowing Georgia Tech comfortable looks and falling behind by a sizable deficit. The Tigers were able to tighten up their defense in the second half, forcing 8 turnovers that led to 12 points, and holding Georgia Tech to more difficult shots by guarding the perimeter one-on-one instead of helping into the paint. This sparked a 26-11 run that secured the victory for Clemson.
- Clemson defeated Georgia Tech on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
The players
Brad Brownell
Clemson's head coach.
Butta Johnson
Clemson's senior guard.
What they’re saying
“I don't know what it was, but we just didn't quite have the same juice defensively in the first half.”
— Brad Brownell, Clemson head coach (si.com)
“[We were] just trying to get a few stops together. I feel like if you get a few stops together, then the offense will eventually come. That's how we felt throughout the majority of the game. Offense, don't worry about that. That'll always come. We've got an elite group of guys.”
— Butta Johnson, Clemson senior guard (si.com)
What’s next
Clemson has clinched the No. 5 seed in the ACC Tournament and will face an unknown opponent in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 12, 2026 at 9:30 p.m. in Charlotte. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.
The takeaway
Clemson's defensive struggles in the latter part of the season raise concerns about their ability to make a deep postseason run. While they were able to tighten up their defense in the second half against Georgia Tech, the Tigers will need to consistently contain opposing ball-handlers if they hope to have success in the ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament.
