CLEMSON — Thanks to Monday’s 85-65 victory over North Carolina at Littlejohn Coliseum, No. 23 Clemson did something few programs have accomplished. The Tigers not only knocked off the Tar Heels, but they also have wins over No. 3 Duke and No. 15 Kentucky this season.
It marks the first time in the program’s 113-year history it beat all three basketball blue bloods in the same year.
“We are blue bloods too, now,” Clemson center Viktor Lakhin said jokingly.
Clemson (20-5, 12-2 ACC) looked like a blue blood against UNC. Led by Lakhin’s 22 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots, the Tigers dominated North Carolina.
The win over the Tar Heels (14-11, 7-6 ACC) came after a six-point victory over the Blue Devils on Saturday. It marked the first time since 2019-’20 season Clemson recorded back-to-back wins over the two ACC powers.
It’s also the first time they beat both of them in the same season since that same year.
“I was just telling people that at (Boston College) I beat every team in the ACC except Duke and North Carolina and now, in the last three days, I have beaten both of them,” guard Jaeden Zackery said. “Someone told me it is kind of like Thanos. I have all the rings now. I finally beat everybody.”
Zackery is obviously not a Marvels Comics super villain, but it is likely Duke and North Carolina fans think he and Lakhin are. Lakhin dominated both teams with 22 points, while Zackery scored 12 points in the victory over the Blue Devils on Saturday and then dropped in 16 points to go along with seven assists and four steals on Monday night.
“Obviously, we are not done yet,” Lakhin said. “We are grateful to be a part of something. That is why we came here — the team success last year and momentum. We are just enjoying it and trying to keep it going. We’re trying to hang a banner and do something that will last forever.”
Last year, the Tigers advanced to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament, the program’s first Elite Eight since 1980. This year’s team is 4-0 against Tobacco Road—UNC, Duke, NC State and Wake Forest—the first time a Clemson team finished a regular season undefeated against those four teams.
The Tigers are also currently a half game back of the Blue Devils in the ACC standings, as they attempt to win the league’s regular season championship for the first time since 1990.
“Obviously, it means you have a good team because you do not do it, unless you do,” Brownell said about Clemson’s 4-0 record vs. Tobacco Road. “So, I am happy for our players and fans. We have been a pretty good program in the league the last seven or eight years.
“We have been really good in a lot of ways… third and fourth in wins now. I think we are up to fourth probably. I think we have been very consistent. But you know they are hard programs to beat and certainly twice in the same year. So, I am happy for our fanbase and proud of our team.”
