Black and White Media

March 17:

College Baseball
Clemson Tigers
Record: 16–4
Last Week: Series loss vs Georgia Tech
Upcoming: vs College of Charleston & The Citadel (Midweek), vs Notre Dame (Weekend)
Clemson faced its toughest test of the season this past weekend and was overwhelmed in a home series loss to Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets showed why they are one of the most dangerous teams in the country, featuring a deep lineup and arguably the top offensive duo in college baseball in Vahn Lackey and Drew Burress.
For Clemson, the series exposed some concerns, particularly on the mound. If the Tigers want to make a deep postseason run, getting Aidan Knaak back to his elite form from two years ago will be critical.
With a lighter midweek slate ahead, Clemson now shifts focus to bouncing back before ACC play continues against Notre Dame.
Stock Watch: ⬇ First real setback raises questions after hot start.

South Carolina Gamecocks
Record: 12–9
Last Week: Swept by Florida
Upcoming: vs Charlotte (Midweek), vs Arkansas (Weekend)
South Carolina endured a rough weekend, getting swept by Florida in a series that highlighted ongoing offensive struggles. The Gamecocks have had difficulty generating consistent production at the plate all season, and it caught up to them again against SEC competition.
Head coach Paul Mainieri’s seat is beginning to heat up as frustrations build early in the season. If South Carolina wants to salvage a positive year, the offense must find rhythm quickly.
A midweek matchup provides a chance to regroup, but a tough SEC test against Arkansas looms.
Stock Watch: ⬇ Offense remains a major concern.

College Basketball
Clemson Tigers
Record: 24–10
Next Game: NCAA Tournament vs Iowa
Clemson reached the ACC Tournament semifinals for the second consecutive season but was handled by Duke, particularly with the absence of key contributor Carter Welling. This marks back-to-back years the Tigers have entered the postseason shorthanded after losing an important piece, following Dillon Hunter’s absence last season.
The Tigers earned an 8-seed in the NCAA Tournament and face a challenging path. A potential run to the Sweet Sixteen would likely require wins over Iowa and Florida.
Outlook: Welling’s absence looms large—tough path ahead.
Tournament Prediction: Iowa defeats Clemson in the first round.

South Carolina Gamecocks
Record: 13–19
South Carolina wrapped up a disappointing season in year three under Lamont Paris. Consistency remained an issue throughout the year, preventing the Gamecocks from gaining momentum in SEC play.
Looking ahead, the focus shifts to development and roster building. In-state product Cam Scott could play a key role in the program’s future, while success in the transfer portal will be critical for a turnaround.
Outlook: Offseason development and portal additions are key.

NBA
Charlotte Hornets
Record: 34–34
Eastern Conference Standing: 10th (Play-In Position)
The Hornets remain right at .500 and continue to hold the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. While still in position for postseason play, they sit 4.5 games behind the 6-seed, making it a challenge to avoid the play-in tournament.
Charlotte has shown flashes of being a dangerous team but will need a strong finish to the regular season to improve its standing.
Playoff Outlook: Holding onto play-in spot but running out of room to climb.

March 9:

College Baseball
Clemson Tigers baseball
Record: 15–1
Last Week: W vs South Carolina Gamecocks baseball (series), Sweep vs La Salle Explorers baseball
Upcoming: vs Georgia Southern Eagles baseball (Midweek), vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball (Weekend)
After dropping their first game of the season to South Carolina, Clemson quickly returned to form by dominating La Salle in a three-game sweep that ended in mercy-rule victories each time.
The Tigers’ pitching depth continues to be the biggest storyline early in the season. The staff has consistently limited opposing offenses while showing the ability to mix multiple arms effectively throughout games.
At the top of the lineup, Nate Savoie and McCladdie continue to create scoring opportunities, while Jay Dillard took advantage of increased playing time with a breakout week offensively.
At 15–1, Clemson now faces a solid midweek test against Georgia Southern before a key ACC weekend series at home against Georgia Tech.
Stock Watch: ⬆ Pitching depth looks elite early in the season.

South Carolina Gamecocks baseball
Record: 12–5
Last Week: L vs Queens Royals baseball, Sweep vs Princeton Tigers baseball
Upcoming: Midweek matchup before SEC play begins
South Carolina appears to be finding its rhythm after an inconsistent start to the season. Following a tough midweek loss to Queens, the Gamecocks responded by dominating Princeton over the weekend, highlighted by a 13–1 victory that showcased the offensive potential of the lineup.
The offense is beginning to revolve around KJ Scobey and Will Craddock, with Craddock continuing to provide consistent production and timely RBIs. Newcomers and younger players are also starting to settle into defined roles, giving the lineup more balance.
On the mound, the Gamecocks are still working to solidify their weekend rotation, but the strikeout ability of the pitching staff stands out. When the command is there, the group looks capable of competing with anyone in the SEC. The bullpen also remains a reliable strength.
With a 12–5 record, South Carolina now turns its attention toward the upcoming SEC schedule, where the team’s consistency will ultimately determine its ceiling.
Stock Watch: ⬆ Trending upward heading into conference play.

College Basketball
Clemson Tigers men’s basketball
Record: 22–9
Next Game: ACC Tournament vs Winner of Virginia Tech Hokies men’s basketball / Wake Forest Demon Deacons men’s basketball
Clemson closed the regular season with a three-point win over Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men’s basketball, finishing the year at 22–9.
Head coach Brad Brownell has his team projected as an 8-seed in the Greenville Regional for the NCAA Tournament. However, Clemson’s ACC Tournament performance could still improve that seeding.
The Tigers will open tournament play against the winner of Virginia Tech vs Wake Forest—two teams that defeated Clemson earlier this season. A win there followed by a potential victory over North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball would significantly strengthen Clemson’s tournament résumé.
Outlook: Win two games in the ACC Tournament and Clemson likely improves its NCAA seeding.

South Carolina Gamecocks men’s basketball
Record: 13–18
Next Game: SEC Tournament vs Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball
South Carolina finished a disappointing regular season at 13–18 and now enters the SEC Tournament needing a miracle to extend its season.
In order to reach the NCAA Tournament, the Gamecocks would need to win the SEC Tournament, a difficult task given the depth and strength of the conference this year.

NBA
Charlotte Hornets
Record: 32–33
Eastern Conference Standing: 10th (Play-In Position)
The Hornets currently occupy the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, sitting just below .500 but still within striking distance of climbing higher in the standings.
After surging over the past couple of months and becoming one of the more surprising teams in the league during that stretch, Charlotte has cooled off slightly. Despite that, they remain only four games out of the 6th seed, which would avoid the play-in tournament entirely.
If the Hornets can rediscover the form that fueled their recent run, they could become a dangerous matchup for opponents once the postseason begins.
Playoff Outlook: Dangerous play-in team if momentum returns.