Clemson Hosts NCAA Regional with USC Upstate, Kentucky, and West Virginia

CLEMSON, S.C. — The Clemson Tigers will begin their NCAA Tournament journey by hosting the Clemson Regional, which includes USC Upstate, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The tournament starts at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday, May 30, at 6 p.m.

The opening round will feature the No. 11 seed Clemson taking on USC Upstate, while Kentucky will meet West Virginia. Kentucky enters the tournament as a notable contender, having qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year, a first in the program’s history.

Clemson Tigers head coach Monty Lee expressed excitement about hosting the regional. “This is what we work for all season. Our players are ready, and the atmosphere at Doug Kingsmore Stadium will be electric,” Lee said.

Fans can start arriving early, as the gates open at 4:30 p.m. Game one pits Kentucky against West Virginia at noon on Friday, followed by the match between USC Upstate and Clemson at 6 p.m. The tournament will unfold over several days with live broadcasts on the ACC Network.

Kentucky finished the season with a 29-24 overall record, struggling in the Southeastern Conference yet showing fierce competition as they led in 28 of 31 SEC games. “We’ve fought hard to get here, and we believe we can compete with anyone,” said Kentucky’s coach.

The 2025 NCAA Tournament will showcase the top four teams, and with the Southeastern Conference well represented, the competition promises to be intense as each team vies for a spot in the next round.

The Clemson Regional is set to be a thrilling battleground, kicking off a weekend of college baseball excitement.