After a tough 72-62 loss to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament, the Auburn Tigers find themselves in a nail-biting wait-and-see situation, hoping to snag one of the final spots in the NCAA Tournament. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi currently has them just outside the 68-team bracket, making them one of the most discussed teams on the bubble.
In Steven Pearl's first year as head coach, Auburn has posted a 17-16 record, including a 1-1 run in the SEC Tournament. Despite a challenging stretch where they dropped seven of eight SEC games, the Tigers boast impressive victories over ranked teams like St.
John’s, Arkansas, and Florida. However, they've struggled in their other nine ranked matchups.
Pearl is making a strong case for his team’s inclusion in the tournament. After the loss to Tennessee, he passionately defended their season.
“Here’s the thing,” Pearl emphasized. “It’s my job to fight for my team and highlight what we’ve accomplished. We scheduled tough out-of-conference games against teams like Houston, Purdue, and Arizona to boost our profile.”
Auburn's schedule was indeed formidable, and Pearl pointed out that they have more top-25 NET wins than most teams on the bubble, except Missouri. They also lead in top-50 wins and have more victories over the projected field than their bubble counterparts.
When it comes to key metrics like NET, KenPom, KPI, and Strength of Record, Auburn shines, outperforming others in at least five of seven categories. Their strength of schedule ranks third overall, and 15th out of conference, a testament to their challenging path.
Pearl acknowledged the aggressive scheduling, especially with 10 new players and nine underclassmen, but he believes in the team’s potential. “This team deserves to be in the tournament,” he asserted. “They’ve got the capability to win games if given the chance.”
As Selection Sunday approaches, Auburn will head back to campus, review game footage, and prepare for what they hope will be a shot at the big dance. The Tigers' fate will be revealed during the NCAA Reveal Show, and until then, it's all about staying ready for any opportunity that comes their way.