Clemson Tigers vs Smu Mustangs Picks and Predictions March 13th 2025

In Pursuit of First ACC Tourney Title, No. 10 Clemson Meets SMU

Clemson remains the only charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference that has never claimed the league tournament title. While the Tigers have come up short in 70 attempts, traditional powerhouses like Duke (22 titles) and North Carolina (18 titles) have dominated the competition.

This year, however, third-seeded Clemson (26-5) may have its best shot yet as it enters the ACC quarterfinals against sixth-seeded SMU (23-9) on Thursday night in Charlotte, N.C. The Tigers are riding an eight-game winning streak that began with a 77-71 victory over then-No. 2 Duke on Feb. 8.

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Clemson, ranked No. 10 in the nation, has historically struggled in the ACC Tournament, never winning more than two games in a row and losing its opening game 50 times. Head coach Brad Brownell, the program’s all-time winningest coach, holds a 7-14 record in the tournament and has never reached the championship game.

“I don’t go there right now. Obviously, it would be a big deal,” Brownell said. “What it would mean to my players, what it would mean to our fans, I’m very cognizant of that. But, like, we need to win the first game.”

Last year, Clemson’s tournament run ended abruptly in a one-and-done 76-55 loss to lower-seeded Boston College. But this season has been different, with the Tigers winning 15 of their 18 ACC games by double digits.

Clemson’s Balanced Attack

Despite a recent slump from first-team All-ACC guard Chase Hunter, who has averaged just 9.3 points on 35.8 percent shooting over the last six games, Clemson’s depth has stepped up. Viktor Lakhin (16.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Ian Schieffelin (13.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg) have been crucial contributors during the winning streak.

Hunter was instrumental in Clemson’s NCAA Tournament run to the Elite Eight last year, averaging 17.8 points and 5.8 assists per game. If he regains his form, the Tigers will be even more dangerous.

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SMU Looks for Payback

SMU advanced to the ACC quarterfinals with a dominant 73-53 victory over Syracuse on Wednesday, led by Matt Cross’ 12 points and nine rebounds. The Mustangs are known for their balanced attack, with six players averaging double figures, including Boopie Miller (13.3 ppg) and Chuck Harris (12.9 ppg).

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Clemson and SMU met on Feb. 22, with the Tigers securing a 79-69 road win. Jaeden Zackery shined in that matchup with 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and five steals. Despite SMU dominating the boards (39-24), Clemson shot an impressive 48.3 percent from three-point range (14-of-29).

One major factor in that game was the absence of Miller, SMU’s leading scorer and playmaker. His impact on the team is undeniable.

“We’re 21-6 with him and 2-3 without him, so it shows how important it is to have him on the court,” SMU coach Andy Enfield said.

With Miller back and the Mustangs seeking redemption, Clemson will need to stay sharp to keep its championship hopes alive.