Steven Pearl is learning that an ugly win is not going to impress the pollsters when it comes to Auburn's ranking.
Following the opening week of the college basketball season, which saw the Tigers have to go to overtime to defeat Bethune-Cookman in their opener, Pearl's squad has dropped in both polls. In the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, Auburn barely held on to a spot in the top 25, coming in at No. 25 after dropping three spots.
In the AP Poll, the Tigers dropped from No. 20 to 22.
It wasn't exactly the debut that Pearl wanted after taking over for his father, Bruce, this offseason. One of the favorites to win the SWAC, Bethune-Cookman came out firing, trailing by only one point heading into halftime. And, with Auburn holding a three-point lead after a Keyshawn Hall free throw with three seconds left, the Tigers were about to get out of the game with a win in regulation.
A foul on Elyjah Freeman at halfcourt on a three-point shooter proved otherwise. Arterio Morris went to the line and sank all three free throws to send the game to overtime.
It's not going to get any easier for Auburn. After hosting Wofford on Tuesday, the Tigers travel to Birmingham to take on Houston on Sunday, the new No. 1 in the AP Poll. Out of the top 10 teams in the AP Poll, Pearl's team plays the Cougars, No. 2 Purdue, No. 5 Arizona, No. 6 Michigan, No. 8 Alabama (twice), No. 9 Kentucky and No. 10 Florida.
The matchup on Sunday features two teams that made a run to the Final Four last season, and a rematch of last year's game in Houston in which the then-No. 11 Tigers pulled out a 74-69 over the then-No. 4 Cougars.
Here are the complete USA TODAY Coaches Poll and AP Poll.