Clemson Coach Dismisses Travel Excuse After Stunning Loss to Virginia Tech

Brad Brownell says his team was simply outplayed by the Hokies, refusing to blame the cross-country trip.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Clemson head coach Brad Brownell did not make any excuses after his team's surprising 76-66 home loss to Virginia Tech on Wednesday night. Despite the Tigers coming off a West Coast road trip, Brownell said the story was not about travel fatigue, but rather that Virginia Tech simply outplayed Clemson on the night.

Why it matters

Clemson has been one of the top teams in the ACC this season, making their home loss to Virginia Tech an unexpected result. Brownell's refusal to blame travel suggests he believes his team was outmatched and that they need to improve certain aspects of their game to compete with the conference's elite.

The details

Clemson had won six straight ACC games before the loss to Virginia Tech. The Hokies shot the ball extremely well, hitting 11-of-21 three-pointers and 52% from the field overall. Meanwhile, Clemson struggled offensively, shooting just 45% from the field and 31% from three-point range.

  • Clemson defeated Stanford on the road on February 4.
  • Clemson won at Cal on February 7.
  • Clemson hosted Virginia Tech on February 12.

The players

Brad Brownell

The head coach of the Clemson men's basketball team.

Mike Young

The head coach of the Virginia Tech men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“The story is not that Clemson came back from the West Coast and whatever. We got beat by a good team tonight that outplayed us. No excuses.”

— Brad Brownell, Head Coach, Clemson Men's Basketball (Greenville News)

“You score 76 points on the Tigers, you're getting something done.”

— Mike Young, Head Coach, Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (Clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

Clemson will look to bounce back when they travel to face Duke, one of the top teams in the nation, on Saturday.

The takeaway

Brownell's refusal to make excuses for his team's loss shows his commitment to accountability and improvement. The Tigers will need to shore up their offensive execution and defensive intensity if they hope to compete with the ACC's elite teams down the stretch.