Auburn Basketball Hits a Rough Patch - But It’s Not Panic Time Just Yet
AUBURN - Auburn basketball is feeling the sting of three straight losses, and Tuesday night’s 84-76 defeat at the hands of Vanderbilt was the latest gut punch. For a team that had rattled off four straight wins not long ago, this recent skid - including back-to-back home losses - has fans and players alike searching for answers.
But let’s be clear: this isn’t a freefall. According to T-Rank, Auburn still holds a 93.1% chance of making the NCAA Tournament.
That’s not exactly bubble territory. Still, as assistant coach Steven Pearl put it postgame, this was a missed opportunity - or two.
“It’s disappointing, because we had two teams that were really good, that had good analytics, that could have really helped our résumé, and we lost to both,” Pearl said.
He’s not wrong. Auburn’s last three games came against Tennessee, Alabama, and Vanderbilt - all top-20 teams.
Winning even one of those could’ve boosted the Tigers’ seeding potential in March. Instead, they’re left with a résumé that’s strong but not bulletproof: four Quad 1 wins, only one loss outside of that tier, and the second-toughest schedule in the country.
Losing Streaks Aren’t Auburn’s Style
What makes this stretch sting even more is how rare it’s been. Auburn hadn’t dropped three straight games in nearly three years.
And doing so at home - a place that’s been a stronghold for the program - adds salt to the wound. This team isn’t used to letting momentum slip away, and they’re certainly not used to letting it happen on their own floor.
The Tigers have a chance to right the ship this Saturday at Arkansas. After that, the schedule lightens up - at least on paper. But that’s the catch: if Auburn doesn’t take care of business soon, those “easier” games could become pressure cookers with NCAA Tournament implications.
Keyshawn Hall’s Sudden Exit
One of the biggest talking points from Tuesday night was the decision to bench Keyshawn Hall - Auburn’s leading scorer - for the final 12:38 of the game. When the Tigers were trailing by 12 and needed a spark, Hall went to the bench… and stayed there.
Now, part of that decision may have stemmed from a technical foul Hall picked up just a few minutes earlier. But according to Bruce Pearl, it wasn’t just about discipline - it was about performance.
Pearl indicated that what was happening on the court with Hall in the game wasn’t helping Auburn climb back. In a game where runs were going to be the difference, Pearl opted to roll with a different lineup. It’s a bold move to sit your top scorer in crunch time, but it speaks to the urgency and frustration the coaching staff is feeling during this skid.
Looking Ahead
The Tigers aren’t in trouble - not yet. But they’re at a crossroads.
This team has the talent, the résumé, and the schedule strength to make noise in March. What they need now is to stop the bleeding and reestablish the identity that made them so tough earlier in the season.
Auburn’s next few games will be telling. Bounce back strong, and this stretch becomes a footnote. Let it linger, and it could shape their entire postseason path.
The good news? There’s still time. But the clock is ticking.