clemson basketball preview: Tigers head to Winston-Salem for a low-possession test
Winston-Salem hosts a matchup that could come down to a few makes from deep when Clemson (20-6) visits Wake Forest (13-12) for a 7: 00 PM ET tip on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at the LJVM Coliseum (12, 799 capacity). Both teams bring contrasting momentum: Wake Forest riding a two-game winning streak while Clemson is searching for answers after consecutive losses following a dominant stretch in conference play.
Game details and context
The teams last met in 2025 when Clemson left town with a 73-62 victory. Wake Forest will look to flip that script at home, where the crowd and the physical style of play can make possessions grind. A pre-game predictive model gives the home side a 39% chance to win, underscoring how tightly contested this matchup projects to be.
Location: LJVM Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC. Tip: 7: 00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Capacity: 12, 799.
Tactical battle: defense, tempo and the three-point line
This game shapes up as an old-school, possession-by-possession chess match. Clemson ranks among the nation's best on the defensive end, sitting roughly 15th in national defensive-efficiency metrics. Offensively, the Tigers operate at one of the slowest tempos in college basketball—near the bottom of tempo rankings—meaning they are comfortable working against the clock, grinding each possession until a high-percentage look presents itself.
That combination forces opponents to be patient and efficient. For Wake Forest, which needs offensive rhythm to score consistently, the key will be converting early transition opportunities and taking advantage of any second-chance chances. Points are set to be at a premium, and turnovers could swing the game more than usual because each extra possession carries outsized value in a slow-tempo contest.
The three-point line looms as the potential tiebreaker. Clemson had held ACC opponents to single-digit three-pointers for much of the season, but that streak unraveled in back-to-back losses when opponents cashed 11 and 10 triples. In those two games, the Tigers managed just 11-for-40 (28%) from deep, a sharp drop from their season mark of roughly 35%. If Wake Forest can string together timely perimeter makes—especially from key guards who have delivered recently—they can flip the rebound and possession math in their favor.
X-factors and what to watch
Individual matchups and recent form will determine much of the outcome. Wake Forest will need its primary scorers to sustain recent outputs; consistent shooting from behind the arc would force Clemson to change its defensive posture and potentially loosen up the halfcourt pressure. On the other end, Clemson's interior defense and help-side rotations will test Wake Forest's ability to score against length and disciplined closeouts.
Watch the foul situation late in the first half and into the second: a big man in foul trouble could open lanes and change shot selection. Turnover margin is another critical barometer—given the deliberate pace, each turnover or live-ball transition could produce an outsized swing.
Finally, bench contributions and in-game adjustments will matter. In tight, low-possession affairs coaches who can exploit matchup advantages or get an extra defensive stop a strategic timeout will have the edge.
Expect a grind-it-out evening where every possession counts. With both teams seeking momentum—Wake Forest to extend its streak and Clemson to halt a slide—this contest should be a defining moment as both squads head down the stretch of conference play.
