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

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — 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.

Topics

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

The Auburn Tigers go into the NCAA Tournament having lost three of their final four games. Coach Bruce Pearl isn't worried. “We lost to Alabama, Tennessee and at Texas A&M,” Pearl said Saturday ...
Yahoo Sports - 11h
Selection Sunday 2025: 5 toughest decisions facing NCAA tournament selection committee

Is Auburn still the No. 1 overall seed? Is North Carolina in or out? Here are the key questions facing the committee before the NCAA selection show on Sunday.
Yahoo Sports - 9h
March Madness: Breaking down the race for NCAA men's tournament No. 1 seeds

Auburn remains the clear-cut No. 1 overall seed and Duke seems like a lock, but the other two spots are up for grabs heading into conference tournament week.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Bracketology: SEC likely assured two No. 1 seeds in NCAA Tournament after losses by Auburn, Michigan State

Jerry Palm projects the winner of the SEC Tournament will join Auburn, Duke and Houston as the fourth No. 1 seed
CBS Sports - 3h
ESPN Bracketology lists Auburn as No. 1 overall seed ahead of SEC Tournament quarterfinal

Auburn will use this weekend's SEC Tournament to keep its chances of receiving a No. 1 seed high.
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
College basketball rankings: Auburn puts stamp on No. 1 overall seed with win over Ole Miss in SEC Tournament

The Tigers continue to leave no doubt they'll be entering the tournament atop the seeding list
CBS Sports - 17h
Teams vying for No. 1 NCAA seeds stated their cases and now its up to selection committee to decide

UCLA, South Carolina, Texas and USC all have stated their cases for No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament with their stellar play this season.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Teams vying for No. 1 NCAA seeds stated their cases and now its up to selection committee to decide

UCLA, South Carolina, Texas and Southern California have all stated their cases for No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament with their stellar play this season
ABC News - 4d

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

Topics

Related

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

Selection Sunday 2025: 5 toughest decisions facing NCAA tournament selection committee

March Madness: Breaking down the race for NCAA men's tournament No. 1 seeds

Bracketology: SEC likely assured two No. 1 seeds in NCAA Tournament after losses by Auburn, Michigan State

ESPN Bracketology lists Auburn as No. 1 overall seed ahead of SEC Tournament quarterfinal

Bracketology: Alabama contending for the fourth No. 1 after beating overall top seed Auburn

College basketball rankings: Auburn puts stamp on No. 1 overall seed with win over Ole Miss in SEC Tournament

Teams vying for No. 1 NCAA seeds stated their cases and now its up to selection committee to decide

Teams vying for No. 1 NCAA seeds stated their cases and now its up to selection committee to decide

More from Yahoo Sports

Where Penn State basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions

Where Alabama basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions

Steelers fans may be surprised over PFF's recent free agency grades

What channel is Tennessee basketball vs Florida in SEC Tournament on today? Time, TV schedule to watch game

Carabao Cup final predictions – can Newcastle end trophy drought vs Liverpool?

More in Sports

Ronald Acuna Jr. says he'll be more careful this season -- but no one believes him

Tracking NFL free agency: Live updates on every signing, trade, cut and rumor

What do the first two rounds of a perfect draft look like?

Where Penn State basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions

Where Alabama basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions