Check out NCAA Tournament breakdowns for Clemson and South Carolina
(CHARLOTTE SPORTS LIVE) — The brackets are out, and South Carolina is represented by its two Power Five teams in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Both Clemson and South Carolina received at-large bids to the Big Dance Sunday night. See how the Tigers and the Gamecocks reached this point, and who they will face in the first round.
Which North Carolina colleges made the NCAA Tournament?
Clemson Tigers
Seed: 6, West Region
Biggest Win: Feb. 6 at UNC (80-76)
Last NCAA appearance: 2021 (First round loss)
Clemson is back in the NCAA Tournament after just missing out a year ago. The Tigers finished fifth in the ACC with a 21-11 overall record and going 11-9 in league play.
The team is led by all-conference big man PJ Hall. The versatile forward was second in the ACC in scoring 18.8 points per game, while averaging 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He received plenty of help in the post from center Ian Schieffelin, who’s third in the ACC with 9.5 rebounds per game.
Meanwhile, on the perimeter, graduate transfer Joseph Girard III was tops in the league shooting 3s, connecting from deep at a 42.5 percent clip.
First-round matchup: vs. (11) New Mexico
When/TV: Friday, March 22, 3:10 p.m., TruTV
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.
About the opponent: New Mexico enters red-hot after winning the Mountain West Conference Tournament as the 6 seed. The Lobos are coached by Richard Pitino, son of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino. They have a balanced scoring attack, with four players putting up between 12.5 and 16 points. JT Toppin blocks 1.9 shots per game and grabs 9 rebounds, providing an intriguing matchup for Hall and Schieffelin down low.
South Carolina Gamecocks
Seed: 6, Midwest
Biggest Win: Jan. 30 at Tennessee (63-59)
Last NCAA Appearance: 2017 (Final Four)
South Carolina had a breakout season in the second year under head coach Lamont Paris, taking the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Tournament since a surprise Final Four run in 2017. They were part of a four-way tie for second in the SEC, going 26-7 overall and 13-5 in the conference.
The Gamecocks have relied on a pressure defense for their turnaround season. They led the SEC in allowing just 66 points per game.
Offensively, Ta’lon Cooper has been the team’s rock. The point guard is second in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.53) while being USC’s go-to from beyond the arc, knocking down 44 percent. Next to him in the backcourt, guard Meechie Johnson isn’t afraid to let if fly from anywhere behind the arc.
Forward B.J. Mack is a scoring threat at 13.6 points per game, and freshman Collin Murray-Boyles erupted for 24 in the Gamecock’s SEC Tournament win over Arkansas.
First-round matchup: vs. (11) Oregon
When/TV: 4 p.m. Thursday, March 21, TNT
Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pa.
About the Opponent: Like Clemson, South Carolina faces a Cinderella conference champion. Oregon won the Pac-12 title after finishing fourth in the regular season. N’Faly Dante is a force for the Ducks, as the 6-foot-11 center is leading the team in points (16.2), rebounds (8.8), blocks (1.9) and steals per game (1.7). Oregon is strong in taking care of the ball, with a 1.3 team assist-to-turnover ratio, a mark certainly to be challenged against USC.
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