Joe Lunardi explains why Clemson is still on the wrong side of his bracket projection

Joe Lunardi spoke about Clemson’s NCAA Tournament résumé on Friday night just before the Tigers tipped off vs. Virginia in the ACC Tournament semifinals.

Lunardi was asked why he doesn’t have Clemson in his projected bracket despite its 14-6 ACC record and its 2 victories so far in Greensboro.

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he answer, according to Lunardi, is simple: precedent. Clemson’s nonconference schedule currently ranks No. 333 nationally according to the NET. Lunardi says a bubble team has never earned an at-large bid with a nonconference schedule that was this lowly-rated.

“It’s history. It’s precedent. There has never been a bubble team — never — to receive an at-large bid with a nonconference schedule i

n the range that Clemson is,” Lunardi said on ESPN. “I’m not saying they’re not good enough. I’m saying that for 30 years, the committee has never taken a team like that.

“The Tigers really challenged the theory. They were 14-6 in the ACC, they have some terrific wins. They’re still alive in this tournament. I’m just not sure I’d want to bet a mortgage payment on the committee going against the 1 trend it has consistently upheld.”

Clemson is facing Virginia in the ACC Tournament semifinals on Friday night. Lunardi indicated he would reluctantly put the Tigers into the Field of 68 if they beat the Cavaliers in Greensboro.

“I would be very inclined to put them in in-spite of all that precedent and history,” Lunardi added. “And then I would fully expect them to be the team that I miss on Sunday night.”