No. 13 Clemson Continues Pursuit of Duke in Pivotal ACC Matchup at Virginia

Clemson is having a historic season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but even their best year yet hasn’t been enough to claim the top spot. As the Tigers prepare for a road battle against Virginia on Saturday, they remain locked in a fierce chase with No. 2 Duke for ACC supremacy.

Despite boasting an impressive 23-5 overall record and 15-2 ACC mark, Clemson still sits behind Duke, which holds a 16-1 conference record—with their only loss coming against the Tigers in a 77-71 upset on Feb. 8.

Even as Clemson has continued to pile up wins, the rest of the ACC has failed to slow Duke down. Now, with just three regular-season games remaining, Clemson needs to stay perfect and hope for some help to catch the Blue Devils.

Clemson’s Dominant Run Continues

Head coach Brad Brownell isn’t letting his team get caught up in the race for first place, instead focusing on maintaining their momentum.

“We’re not really talking about those things,” Brownell said after Clemson’s latest victory. “We just keep talking about if we play well and handle business and do things the right way, then we’ll keep having important games.”

That mindset has worked. Clemson has won five straight games, including an 83-68 rout of Notre Dame on Wednesday. The Tigers’ efficiency was on full display in that victory, with 23 assists to just four turnovers—the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio in program history.

The team’s balanced attack was led by Ian Schieffelin, who scored a career-high 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting while grabbing nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Viktor Lakhin added 18 points, and both Chase and Dillon Hunter contributed five assists without turning the ball over.

The Tigers have been surgical in their victories, with 13 of their 15 ACC wins coming by double digits. They also take a six-game road winning streak into Charlottesville, looking to extend their dominance.

Virginia Peaking at the Right Time

Virginia has had a rollercoaster season but is hitting its stride at just the right time. The Cavaliers have won four of their past six games, including a surprising 83-75 road victory over Wake Forest on Wednesday.

Their recent success has been driven by elite guard play, particularly from Isaac McKneely, who erupted for 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting against Wake Forest.

“They cut the lead down and we drew a couple of actions for him and he delivered to give us some separation,” Virginia interim coach Ron Sanchez said. “To be able to do that as a marked man on the scouting report, it’s really impressive.”

McKneely has been one of the hottest shooters in the ACC, averaging 20 points per game over his last five contests while shooting 45.5 percent (20-for-44) from three-point range.

He’s not the only Cavalier heating up. Andrew Rohde has been lights out from deep as well, connecting on 47.4 percent (18-for-38) of his threes in recent games while maintaining an elite assist-to-turnover ratio (54 assists, 11 turnovers over his past nine games).

Another key factor for Virginia has been the emergence of Dai Dai Ames, who failed to score in double figures in December or January but averaged 15.4 points per game in February on 59.5 percent shooting.

A Historic Shift in the Series

This matchup marks a new era in the Clemson-Virginia rivalry following the departure of Tony Bennett, who had dominated the Tigers for years. Under Bennett, the Cavaliers won 15 of the last 16 matchups against Clemson.

Overall, Virginia leads the all-time series 83-53, but Clemson enters Saturday’s game with a chance to flip the script.

Keys to the Game

1. Can Clemson Maintain Its Efficiency?
The Tigers have been one of the most disciplined teams in the nation, limiting turnovers and playing smart basketball. If they can continue their elite assist-to-turnover ratio, they’ll be in good shape.

2. Will Virginia’s Hot Shooting Continue?
McKneely and Rohde have been lighting it up from beyond the arc. If they can stay hot, Virginia has a chance to keep pace with Clemson’s balanced attack.

3. Ian Schieffelin’s Interior Dominance
Schieffelin has been a force in the paint, and his matchup with Virginia’s frontcourt could be a deciding factor. If he can replicate his 24-point, 9-rebound performance from the Notre Dame game, Clemson will have a major advantage.

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4. The Mental Game for Clemson
With Duke still ahead in the standings, the Tigers can’t afford to look ahead. Staying focused on each game, especially on the road, will be critical.

5. Virginia’s Home Court Factor
Charlottesville is never an easy place to play. Can the Cavaliers feed off their home crowd and disrupt Clemson’s rhythm?

Final Thoughts

Clemson is chasing history, and every game down the stretch is crucial in their pursuit of the ACC’s top spot. While Duke remains in control, the Tigers can’t afford to slip up—especially against a Virginia team that is peaking at the right time.

Virginia, meanwhile, is looking to make a statement in the post-Tony Bennett era and could play spoiler to Clemson’s ACC title hopes. With elite guard play and newfound momentum, the Cavaliers won’t go down without a fight.

This ACC showdown has all the makings of a thrilling battle. Will Clemson continue its dominance, or will Virginia pull off another upset?