Bruce Pearl points to No. 3 Auburn's resume in saying Tigers deserve NCAA's No. 1 overall seed

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Auburn Tigers go into the NCAA Tournament having lost three of their final four games.

Coach Bruce Pearl isn't worried. That didn't stop him from making his case that Auburn deserves not just a No. 1 seed in the tournament but the overall No. 1 seed.

Why? Because of his Tigers' “historically strong” resume. So no, he has no panic at the prospect of losing that top spot.

“We lost to Alabama, Tennessee and at Texas A&M,” Pearl said Saturday after his No. 3 Tigers lost 70-65 to No. 8 Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals.

“Yeah, we’re panicked," he said sarcastically. "That’s a real softball.”

Pearl kept rolling to make his case for an Auburn team with five losses. Yes, three in the past four but all to great teams.

“We lost at the buzzer against Alabama,” Pearl said. “We had possessions here. Yeah, we’re panicked. I can hardly wait till next weekend to start playing again. Let’s get to Sunday, find out where we’re going, find out who we’re playing and let’s get back to work. I’m looking forward, not back.”

Pearl came out of the gate with his opening statement defending his Tigers. They won this tournament last year only to wind up a No. 4 seed when the selection committee announced the NCAA Tournament bracket. Auburn lost to Yale in the first round.

That was then, this is now and the SEC is trying to get an unprecedented 14 members into the bracket on Selection Sunday.

In a season when the conference has never been stronger, Auburn won a school-record eight SEC road games — the most in the league. Four of those were to ranked opponents. The Tigers came in No. 2 in NET Rankings and lead the country with 16 Quad 1 wins — four more than Michigan State (12).

Pearl argued that a loss to Tennessee shouldn't keep Auburn from the top spot.

“We lost to a team that’s fighting for a 1 seed,” Pearl said.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Topics

Bruce Pearl points to No. 3 Auburn’s resume in saying Tigers deserve NCAA’s No. 1 overall seed

Auburn won this tournament last year only to wind up a No. 4 seed when the selection committee announced the NCAA Tournament bracket. Auburn lost to Yale in the first round.
Yahoo Sports - 8h
College basketball rankings: Auburn remains on top ahead of Duke despite two-game losing streak

The Tigers' body of work speaks for itself despite Bruce Pearl's team falling down the stretch
CBS Sports - 6d
Tennessee basketball blunts Texas momentum, sets up Rick Barnes-Bruce Pearl rematch | Adams

The Tennessee defense that suffocated Texas will now face the challenge of containing Auburn All-American Johni Broome.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Bracketology: Alabama contending for the fourth No. 1 after beating overall top seed Auburn

The Tigers remain the No. 1 overall seed in Jerry Palm's bracket despite the loss
CBS Sports - 6d
ESPN predicts Saturday's SEC Tournament semifinal game between Tennessee and Auburn

The Auburn Tigers won a tough game on Friday against Ole Miss 62-57 and now looks to get another win over the Tennessee Volunteers.
Yahoo Sports - 16h
No. 8 Tennessee downs No. 3 Auburn 70-65 to reach SEC Tournament championship game

The fourth-seeded Volunteers (27-6) got revenge for their Jan. 25 loss at Auburn and their 2019 loss to the Tigers in this tournament’s title game.
Yahoo Sports - 9h
SEC Tournament - Tennessee vs. Auburn Predictions: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends, and Recent Stats

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Auburn Tigers Game Preview
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Did critical shot vs Ole Miss restore Auburn basketball's faith in Chaney Johnson? The Tigers never lost it

Leading up to Ole Miss on Friday, it had been six games since Auburn basketball's Chaney Johnson last splashed a 3-pointer.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Is Texas A&M still considered a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament?

Texas A&M's loss to Texas was likely meaningless regarding the Aggies' seeding in the NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN bracket expert Joe Lunardi.
Yahoo Sports - 1d

More from Yahoo Sports

Heartwarming moment Lewis Hamilton’s dad consoles F1 rookie after debut crash

Isack Hadjar endured an F1 debut to forget after spinning into the barrier on the formation lap
Yahoo Sports - 14m
Bud Cauley got into The Players Championship as an alternate; now he's one shot off lead

Bud Cauley enters the final round of The Players Championship in second place after shooting a 6-under 66 Saturday. He is one shot behind J.J. Spaun.
Yahoo Sports - 16m
Lewis Hamilton swears over radio as Ferrari miss chance for F1 debut win in Australian GP

The seven-time F1 world champion failed to pit when needed amid carnage in the rain in Melbourne
Yahoo Sports - 19m
Kylian Mbappe, Raphinha Face Setback in Ballon d’Or Poll as Ousmane Dembele Gains Ground

Ousmane Dembele has been one of the standout footballers of 2025. The Frenchman has netted 21 goals this year, with his latest coming in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 ...
Yahoo Sports - 20m
Dodgers fall to Hanshin Tigers in final tuneup before start of season

Behind a superb start from Hiroto Saiki, the Hanshin Tigers didn't give up a hit until the fifth inning and defeated the Dodgers 3-0 at the Tokyo Dome.
Yahoo Sports - 23m

More in Sports

Heartwarming moment Lewis Hamilton’s dad consoles F1 rookie after debut crash

Isack Hadjar endured an F1 debut to forget after spinning into the barrier on the formation lap
Yahoo Sports - 14m
Bud Cauley got into The Players Championship as an alternate; now he's one shot off lead

Bud Cauley enters the final round of The Players Championship in second place after shooting a 6-under 66 Saturday. He is one shot behind J.J. Spaun.
Yahoo Sports - 16m
Lewis Hamilton swears over radio as Ferrari miss chance for F1 debut win in Australian GP

The seven-time F1 world champion failed to pit when needed amid carnage in the rain in Melbourne
Yahoo Sports - 19m
Kylian Mbappe, Raphinha Face Setback in Ballon d’Or Poll as Ousmane Dembele Gains Ground

Ousmane Dembele has been one of the standout footballers of 2025. The Frenchman has netted 21 goals this year, with his latest coming in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 ...
Yahoo Sports - 20m
Dodgers fall to Hanshin Tigers in final tuneup before start of season

Behind a superb start from Hiroto Saiki, the Hanshin Tigers didn't give up a hit until the fifth inning and defeated the Dodgers 3-0 at the Tokyo Dome.
Yahoo Sports - 23m