The national media’s love affair with the Duke Blue Devils is no secret, but the Clemson Tigers are getting a raw deal in the spotlight. Despite sitting just half a game behind Duke with a 9-1 record in the ACC, Clemson’s impressive run under head coach Brad Brownell is being massively overlooked. And it’s not just fans who are fired up—national basketball reporter Jon Rothstein from CBS Sports dropped a bombshell after Duke’s gritty win at Wake Forest.
After Duke’s narrow 63-56 victory, Rothstein praised the Blue Devils, predicting they’d go undefeated in the ACC and secure a No. 1 seed come Selection Sunday. But here’s the kicker: Rothstein completely ignored Clemson’s upcoming showdown with Duke on February 8, acting like the Tigers aren’t even a factor in the race.
His post on X? “Duke just won arguably the toughest remaining ACC game on its regular season schedule,” he said, suggesting that no one could stand in the way of Duke’s perfect ACC run. But here’s where the media got it all wrong—Clemson is the real threat.
Anyone with a keen eye knows that a trip to Clemson will be a massive challenge for Duke. This is the same Clemson team that already knocked off No. 4 Kentucky in a thrilling 70-66 victory earlier this season. So, it’s fair to say Rothstein might be underestimating the Tigers, who are ranked No. 30 in the NCAA NET Rankings, while Wake Forest, who Duke just beat, sits far behind at No. 71.
Let’s not forget that when these two teams met earlier this year, Clemson handed Duke a 73-62 defeat. That’s not a fluke—it’s a statement. The Tigers are no joke, and their home court, Littlejohn Coliseum, will be anything but kind to the Blue Devils.
Rothstein might want to rethink his “no obstacles left” claim. The Tigers are set to prove that they are the real toughest test standing between Duke and an undefeated ACC season. Get ready—this battle in Clemson is going to be explosive.
