Paul Finebaum has Auburn basketball above the rest of the field when it comes to March Madness confidence levels. Beating No. 2 Alabama at Coleman Coliseum solidified the Tigers' standing on Saturday to most.
For some reason, though, Finebaum felt the need to share that the last time an SEC team won the championship was an Anthony Davis-led Kentucky team back when John Calipari could still coach.
And he got the date wrong for when they even won.
"I think you have to go with Auburn. And, I’m sure some folks in North Carolina are saying, ‘Didn’t they play back in December? And, didn’t Duke beat Auburn?’ Yes, they did. Auburn had a lead in that game. But, ultimately, I think Auburn has emerged," Finebaum said on SportsCenter, per On3.
“And one advantage I give Auburn is the depth of the SEC. Having to go through that. We talk about having 14 possible NCAA teams,” Finebaum said. “But it is worth remembering one thing before we declare Auburn the champ and the SEC the greatest conference. Last time the SEC won the national championship? 2013. That was Anthony Davis leading John Calipari's Kentucky team to the championship. It has been a while."
In 2013, the Wildcats were an NIT team missing their NBA draft lottery talent, Nerlens Noel, from an ACL tear. 2012 was when Kentucky won it all and had the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft, Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
What UK did that year has nothing to do with AU this year. That was three presidencies ago and during a time when the Big East featured West Virginia, Pitt, Louisville, USF, Syracuse, Cincinnati, and Rutgers.
Bruce Pearl is leading a team of destiny. Perhaps even "one of those teams."
“Auburn is 23-2. They've faced 7 of the top 10 teams... If they were to somehow continue to dominate the season, we might have to start discussing them as one of those teams,” Fanta said on The Field of 68 podcast.
The Tigers will be fine. Regardless of Kentucky's tournament loss in 2012.