Bruce Pearl led the Auburn Tigers to an SEC Tournament title in 2024, the program’s first since 2019, second since Pearl took over in 2014, and third all-time. The program’s only SEC Tournament victory without Pearl came in 1985 when the Tigers snuck into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed by claiming that automatic bid as the eighth seed in the conference tourney.
If the Tigers repeat in 2025, it won’t be an underdog story. The Tigers have been the No. 1 team in the country for most of the season and heading into the final stretch of the regular season, appear poised to claim the conference’s regular season title. When Auburn grabbed the conference tournament crown a year ago, it did so after finishing second in the SEC with a 13-5 regular season conference record. The Tigers are 13-1 in SEC play before a midweek matchup against Ole Miss on Wednesday, February 26.
Even if Auburn holds off Florida and Alabama for the regular season title, it won’t be easy for the Tigers to navigate their way through the 2025 SEC Tournament. The league could put as many as 13 or even 14 of its teams into the NCAA Tournament and is likely to claim three of the four No. 1 seeds in March Madness.
For Auburn to repeat as champions when the league converges on Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee from March 12-16, Pearl’s group will need to stay hot and keep beating top-tier competition.
Where is the 2025 SEC Tournament:
Once again, the SEC will crown its champion in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference has been hosting its men’s basketball tournament at the Bridgestone Arena since 2018 when it signed a deal through 2035.
The SEC doesn’t quite have the history of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden, but the league is making a concerted effort to build its basketball tradition in Nashville.
SEC Tournament location for 2026, 2027, and beyond
The SEC plans to host its conference tournament in Nashville through 2035 and is already eight years into its 18-year contract with Bridgestone Arena.