With Clemson's 77-71 win over No.2 Duke on Saturday, the Tigers have moved up three spots to No. 30 in the NET Rankings. The same spot Brad Brownell's team began the week.
"Really proud of the way our guys played," Brownell said after the win. "The second half we played about as well as we can play."
Clemson (19-5, 11-2) dropped three spots after its triple-overtime loss at home to Georgia Tech on Tuesday, by far its worst loss of the season. That's right; the loss to the Yellow Jackets was worse than the overtime defeat Clemson suffered earlier in the season at South Carolina. Georgia Tech ranks 37 spots lower than the Gamecocks in the NET.
"Tonight was about our guys," Brownell added. "Our guys mustering up the spirit and energy after a tough loss. Just doing what we needed to do to give ourselves a chance to win. Making the plays that you have to make."
As it stands today, the Tigers have just one more Quad 1 opportunity in the regular season. That comes on Feb 22 in a road matchup with SMU. The Mustangs are currently No. 39. While the rankings are fluid, it's not very likely any of the Tigers' other future opponents can take that kind of jump.
When North Carolina visits Littlejohn on Monday night, that will serve as a Quad 2 contest, with the Tar Heels currently No. 45 in the rankings.
Clemson: No. 30 NET Ranking
Quad 1 (3-2) Loss: at Boise State (No. 48) Win: Kentucky (No. 17) Loss: at Louisville (No. 28) Win: at Pitt (No. 47) Win: Duke (No. 2)
Quad 2 (5-2) Win (neutral site): San Francisco (No. 61) Win (neutral site): Penn State (No. 65) Loss: Memphis (No. 44) Loss: at South Carolina (No. 90) Win: Wake Forest (No. 60) Win: at Georgia Tech (No. 127) Win: at NC State (No. 120)
Quad 3 (6-1) Win: at Miami (No. 225) Win: Stanford (No. 78) Win: Cal (No. 128) Win: Florida State (No. 87) Win: Syracuse (No. 146) Win: at Virginia Tech (No. 152) Loss: Georgia Tech (No. 127)
Quad 4 (5-0) Win: Charleston Southern (No. 275) Win: Saint Francis (No. 315) Win: Eastern Kentucky (No. 190) Win: Radford (No. 176) Win: Florida A&M (No. 327)