Official Ticket Marketplace of the Clemson University Tigers
Clemson University Tigers Men's Basketball History
The Clemson University Tigers men’s basketball team formed ahead of the 1911-12 season as part of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In 1921, Clemson joined the Southern Conference, and 18 years later, won the conference tournament. Clemson became one of the founding members of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953. The pairing of head coach Bill Foster and dominant center Tree Rollins initiated a sea change for the Tigers in the late ’70s, culminating in Clemson’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1980 where the team advanced to the Elite Eight.
Foster’s successor, Cliff Ellis, led the Tigers to their sole ACC regular season title in 1990, while head coach Rick Barnes guided the team to three consecutive NCAA tournament berths from 1996 to 1998. During current head coach Brad Brownell’s tenure, Clemson has made five March Madness appearances, including 2021, 2024 and 2025. During the 2024 tournament, the Tigers reached the Elite Eight for a second time in school history.
Several notable NBA athletes played college basketball at Clemson, including Rollins, Horace Grant, Larry Nance, Greg Buckner, Elden Campbell, Trevor Booker, Will Solomon and K.J. McDaniels.
Clemson University Tigers Team Info
Conference: ACC
Team Colors: Orange and regalia
Team Rivals: South Carolina, NC State, Georgia Tech, Florida State
Clemson University Tigers at Littlejohn Coliseum
Littlejohn Coliseum has been home to the Clemson Tigers men’s basketball team since it opened in 1968. The arena was named after Clemson alum and the university’s first business manager, James C. Littlejohn, who had previously helped construct the South Carolina school’s prized football venue, Memorial Stadium. A bust of James Littlejohn and a statue of the Littlejohn Tiger have stood on the premises since 1969. The 9,000-seat facility underwent major renovation projects in 2003 and 2016.
