Most of the top seeds in the SEC Tournament were bounced early. Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama all lost on Friday in their first matchup in Nashville, but No. 4 seed Auburn rolled to a conference title. On Sunday, Bruce Pearl’s Tigers dominated Florida 86-67, pulling away in the second half with a 10-0 run.
Gettin' loud in Bridgestone Arena with this right here‼️ pic.twitter.com/iuV5gbU7uU
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) March 17, 2024
The last time that Auburn won the SEC Tournament was 2019 behind Bryce Brown, Jared Harper, and Chuma Okeke. That trio rode the postseason momentum to the Final Four, and Auburn fans still feel like they were robbed of a shot at a national title with a 63-62 loss to Virginia.
#WDE congrats to my alma mater Auburn Mens basketball program for bringing home the SEC Tournament Championship title. Coach Bruce Pearl got these guys balling!! Lets dominate March Madness and bring home the National Title that they screwed us few years ago.
— Jay Vinson (@JayVinson30) March 17, 2024
This team could be a shot at redemption. Pearl could be loading up for another deep run after second-round exits in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments, and Tigers fans were quick to remind the rest of the SEC just how good their program and its head coach has been.
Auburn hoops 109 years before Bruce Pearl: O Final Fours, 3 reg season league titles, one tourney title
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) March 17, 2024
Bruce Pearl in 10 years at Auburn: Final Four, 2 SEC reg season titles, 2 tourney titles
As good as you think Pearl's been - he's been MUCH better.
AUBURN SEC TOURNEY CHAMPS pic.twitter.com/8hDMwyQ1f1
In the three-game run to the conference crown, Mississippi State was Auburn’s only opponent to stay within 10 points. The Tigers first took down South Carolina 86-55 in the quarterfinals, then beat the Bulldogs 73-66 in the semis before dismantling Todd Golden’s Gators. Pearl’s former assistant didn’t have any answers for Auburn. Beyond just besting Golden, Auburn fans and fans of their opponents have begun to compare Pearl to the other best coaches in the SEC.
Bruce Pearl is a better coach than John Calipari.
— Derek (@derekwesleylane) March 17, 2024
Bruce Pearl > regular season Rick
— John vol (@john_vol12445) March 17, 2024
Though more than comparing Pearl and the Tigers to the conference that they just cruised to a title in, Auburn fans were happy to celebrate this team which dispelled claims that it could only win at home in the Jungle.
THIS DON’T LOOK LIKE THE JUNGLE TO ME
— Taylor Korn (@TaylorKornTNR) March 17, 2024
SEC CHAMPIONS.
BRUCE PEARLS 200TH WIN.
LET’S DANCE
pic.twitter.com/9PNig3e8wK
Auburn will now await its NCAA Tournament draw which will be announced at 6:00 pm ET on CBS.