Where Will Clemson be Seeded in the NCAA Tournament?

Fire it up! (Photo By: Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

As the college basketball season rolls on and March inches closer, bracket projections become extremely important for teams like Clemson. After their wins against UNC and Duke, the Tigers are only one or two wins away from being locked into the NCAA tournament for the second straight season, hoping to create the same magic as last year. As of today, here is where some of the best college basketball minds expect Clemson to be seeded. 

NCAA/Andy Katz - In his latest bracket, Andy Katz has the Clemson Tigers as a 6 seed in the NCAA tournament. In this projection, Clemson would have to travel out West to San Francisco, California, to play the winner of the San Diego State/Arkansas First Four matchup. Both teams would be difficult matchups for the Tigers as Hall of Famer John Calipari's Razorbacks have been playing exciting basketball recently. Before their four-point loss to the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, the Razorbacks had won two games in a row at fifteenth-ranked Kentucky and Texas. Arkansas' best player, Adou Thiero, has been dominant for the Razorbacks ever since star freshman Boogie Fland ended his season by getting right thumb surgery. Thiero is averaging 16.5 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals on 57.4% shooting from the field. San Diego State would also be a tough matchup for the Tigers, as the Aztecs made the National Championship game just two seasons ago. This San Diego State team is much different than their team from two seasons ago, but with Head Coach Brian Dutcher still at the helm for his eighth season in San Diego, the Aztecs could be poised for another run. If San Diego State can make a run, it will be based on the play of Miles Byrd. The 6'7" guard from Stockholm, California, is averaging 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and two steals per game for the Aztecs. Although the Tigers would certainly be the favorites in these hypothetical matchups, they would much rather see the likes of Georgia or Texas in the First Round of the NCAA tournament. 

The Field of 68 - In this latest bracket by John Fanta and Jeff Goodman, the Clemson Tigers are a projected 7 seed in the NCAA tournament. In this bracket, Clemson would have to travel to the Midwest to Indianapolis, Indiana, for a matchup with the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners are currently 16-7 on the season and 3-7 within the SEC. Oklahoma entered SEC play undefeated at 13-0 with wins over thirteenth-ranked Arizona, Louisville, and twentieth-ranked Michigan. Still, they have struggled to keep up with the dominant force, which is the Southeastern Conference. Although they have struggled mightily in SEC play, the Sooners had a very successful out-of-conference season, which could make them a dark horse candidate in the NCAA tournament. Oklahoma's best player, Jalon Moore, will have to be the guy for the Sooners if they intend to make noise during the tournament. On the season, Moore averages 17.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on 52.1% shooting from the field and 43.1% from behind the arc. This could prove to be a tough matchup for the Tigers if this hypothetical was to play out, but Clemson would almost certainly be the favorite heading into this game. 

ESPN/Joe Lunardi - In this latest bracket made by Joe Lunardi, the Clemson Tigers are projected as a 7 seed in the NCAA tournament. In this bracket, Clemson would go West to San Francisco, California, for another matchup with Oklahoma. If the Tigers were to beat the Sooners in this hypothetical matchup, they would play the winner of the Texas A&M/Norfolk State game. For the Aggies, Wade Taylor IV is the difference maker. On the season, Taylor IV averages 15.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. The only downside to Taylor's game is his inefficient shooting. The 6'0" senior from Dallas, Texas, shoots just 37.8% from the floor and 35% from downtown. If Norfolk State could pull off the upset against Texas A&M, the Clemson Tigers would favor themselves heavily in this contest. Norfolk State is in first place in the MEAC standings but has lost by a lot when playing tournament-caliber teams this season. The Spartans' most impactful player this season has been Brian Moore Jr. The 6'2" senior from Harlem, New York, averages 18.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, three assists, and 1.5 steals per game on 55.7% shooting from the field. Should this hypothetical bracket become a reality, Clemson could have a realistic path toward back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances.