Clemson Basketball Faces Uphill Battle to Reach Sweet 16

Tigers must overcome loss of starting center to make deep NCAA Tournament run

Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:33pm

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Clemson basketball is back in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season, but the Tigers face a tough road to reach the Sweet 16 after losing starting center Carter Welling to a season-ending injury. Without their top rebounder and shot-blocker, Clemson will rely on balanced scoring and stifling defense to upset No. 9 seed Iowa and potentially take down defending champion Florida in the second round.

Why it matters

Clemson has made the Elite Eight once and the first round once in its last two NCAA Tournament appearances, but the Tigers' path to the Sweet 16 this year is more challenging without Welling. The team's defensive identity and ability to win close games will be tested against high-powered offenses like Florida's.

The details

Clemson (24-10) is the No. 8 seed in the South region and will face No. 9 Iowa (21-12) in the first round. The Tigers have had eight different leading scorers this season, with RJ Godfrey averaging a team-high 11.9 points. Clemson's defense, which allows just 66.7 points per game, will be crucial, but the loss of Welling's interior presence is a major concern. The Tigers struggled without him against Duke in the ACC Tournament, and will need consistent production from forwards Nick Davidson and Chase Thompson to overcome Florida's size and rebounding advantage if they advance.

  • Clemson will play Iowa on March 20 (6:50 p.m. ET, TNT) in Tampa, Florida.
  • The winner will face the winner between No. 1 seed Florida and No. 16 Prairie View/Lehigh in the second round on March 22.

The players

RJ Godfrey

Clemson's leading scorer, averaging 11.9 points per game.

Carter Welling

Clemson's starting center who is out for the season with a torn ACL.

Nick Davidson

Clemson forward who had a double-double in the ACC Tournament without Welling.

Chase Thompson

Clemson freshman forward who will need to step up in Welling's absence.

Brad Brownell

Clemson's head coach, who has led the Tigers to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

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What they’re saying

“Our effort is our superpower. If we come out, we set the tone and we play hard for 40 minutes, we can beat anybody in the country.”

— RJ Godfrey

“I'm really proud of it. Speaks to the consistency we've had here in the last several years. It's not easy to do. It's not easy to make it. It's not easy to make it a couple years in a row.”

— Brad Brownell, Clemson Head Coach

What’s next

If Clemson beats Iowa, the Tigers will face the winner between No. 1 seed Florida and No. 16 Prairie View/Lehigh in the second round on March 22.

The takeaway

Clemson's path to the Sweet 16 is more challenging this year without starting center Carter Welling, but the Tigers' defensive identity and balanced scoring could still propel them to an upset victory over Iowa. However, the defending champion Florida Gators and their high-powered offense will likely prove too much for the undermanned Tigers in the second round.