If Auburn is to hear its name called next Sunday during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, the Tigers must have gone on a deep run in the SEC Tournament in Nashville this week.
However, according to Auburn head coach Steven Pearl, that run isn’t necessary for the Tigers to reach the tournament for the fifth straight year.
"We have the best win in college basketball at Florida,” Pearl said after seeing his team get blown out by Alabama. “If you look at our quality wins and other teams on the bubble, I don't think those teams get those wins... I think our resume stands up against anybody's."
So much to unpack here, so let’s start with this: the Tigers finished the regular season 16-15, including 7-11 in what was a watered-down SEC this season. And yes, Auburn did go into Florida in January and take down the Gators in an impressive win.
But what Pearl doesn’t want you to look at is what his team has done since that. A 3-8 record, including a five-game losing streak, with embarrassing losses to Mississippi State and at home against Ole Miss.
The first-year coach probably also doesn’t want you to look at what the Tigers achieved in their non-conference schedule against some of the big boys this season. While a one-point loss to then-No. 1 Houston looks even better now, Auburn was humiliated by Purdue, Arizona and Michigan in a non-conference slate that Pearl’s father, Bruce, set up and then bailed on facing, retiring on the first day of fall practice.
Oh, and please ignore that season-opening overtime win against lowly Bethune-Cookman.
While Joe Lundardi amazingly still has the Tigers as one of the first four in his latest bracketology, there are many more deserving teams (ahem, Miami, Ohio) who deserve a bid over this year’s Auburn squad.
Just don’t tell Pearl that.