Clemson had the potential to make the Final Four or flop. After a horrific 31-13 showing in the first half, it was clear that a flop was the leading contender. While they tried to fight back, Clemson fell behind by too many and failed to finish off the comeback. McNeese’s 69-67 upset over Clemson marked the first major upset of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Clemson had expectations following a huge win over Duke and an impressive 18-2 finish in the ACC. However, the Cowboys came in ready to play, and the Tigers had little interest in competing until late in the second half. So what’s next for McNeese? Can they pull off another upset on Saturday? Will this loss set Clemson back?
McNeese Upsets Clemson: What’s Next for Both Squads
McNeese will be a Difficult Out
Unfortunately for McNeese, Clemson figured out how to stifle the Cowboys in the second half with a full-court press. Before that press, McNeese’s defense looked unstoppable, and their offense was rolling. With the showing Purdue put on the floor on Thursday against High Point, McNeese will make Purdue nervous. The Cowboys could be that double-digit seed that advances deep in the tournament because of their balance on offense and defense. Brandon Murray came up huge for the Cowboys against Clemson and will need to continue that against Purdue. Quadir Copeland must avoid turnovers against the Boilermakers. Either way, with McNeese’s upset win over Clemson, they showed that despite coach Will Wade leaving for NC State, they’re going to be a tough out.
Clemson’s Strong Season Ruined
Clemson had a chance for a special run, but their season will be nothing. They weren’t a favorite in the tournament, but they had all the makings of a serious Final Four contender. Filled with seniors like Chase Hunter and Jaeden Zackery, the Tigers set their goals beyond the Elite Eight, the round they fell last season to Alabama. Instead, they failed to avoid the upset that most people saw coming. Why didn’t they come out ready to play? Was this coaching? Was this a player issue? Those questions may never be answered, but for an ACC team to be dominated is not a good sign.
Clemson will lose Hunter and Zackery, along with other key contributors like Viktor Lakhin. They are a senior-laden team that doesn’t have clear options to replace their stars unless they make some big splashes in the transfer portal. This may have been their best chance at a deep run in the near future, but they floundered in the first round. McNeese upset Clemson because the Tigers didn’t show up in the first half. They didn’t deserve the win despite the huge second-half comeback.
The Last Word on McNeese’s Upset Over Clemson
One team showed up to play the full 40 minutes. One team didn’t show up till late in the second half. McNeese earned the win. Clemson deserved the loss. The disappointing season for the ACC continues with yet another unfortunate loss on Thursday. Will Wade may not be there for much longer, but he’s extended his stay one more day with McNeese’s upset win over Clemson. NC State will be getting a stud coach. Clemson will be getting to watch the rest of the tournament on their couch and it’s unclear if they have the makings of a deep tournament team next season.
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