Kristian Ferrell
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball team has a rich history dating back to 1906. The team has achieved success over the years, including winning six conference regular season championships and three SEC tournament championships. Auburn has appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times and has produced 36 NBA draft picks. The Tigers play their home games at Neville Arena in Alabama, and their current coach, Bruce Pearl, holds the record for the most wins in Auburn basketball history. Auburn has had notable victories and rivalries with opponents such as Alabama, Duke, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The team has also featured legendary players like Charles Barkley, who was named SEC Player of the Year in 1984.
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What You'll Learn
Auburn Tigers men's basketball history against Alabama
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball team has a long history of competition against the Alabama Crimson Tide, with a rivalry that dates back to 1924. The two teams first met in the Southern Conference Tournament on March 1, 1924, with Auburn losing to Alabama by a score of 19-40. Since then, the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide have developed a fierce rivalry, with both schools being well-known for their football programs.
The Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide have faced off in several notable games throughout their history. On February 27, 1960, the Tigers clinched their first-ever SEC championship with a dramatic 63-61 victory over Alabama in overtime. In 1970, Auburn's John Mengelt scored a school-record 60 points and hit 23 out of 44 field goals in a 121-78 blowout victory over Alabama. In 1985, the Auburn Tigers won the SEC Tournament by beating Alabama 53-49 in overtime, becoming the first team ever to win four games in four days to claim the title.
In more recent years, the rivalry between the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide has continued to intensify. On February 15, 2025, the Tigers and the Tide faced off in what was billed as the biggest game in SEC basketball history, with #1 Auburn taking on #2 Alabama. Auburn emerged victorious with a 94-85 win, led by star players Johni Broome and Miles Kelly. This game marked the first meeting between the top two teams in the AP poll in SEC history and only the sixth time in AP poll history that the top two teams from the same state had met.
The Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide have also traded victories in other recent matchups. On March 8, 2025, #7 Alabama defeated #1 Auburn 93-91 in overtime, with Mark Sears hitting a game-winning jumper at the buzzer. This marked the first time in the series' history that the road team won both matchups. Overall, the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide rivalry has been filled with exciting games and intense competition, with both teams trading victories and creating memorable moments in college basketball history.
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Auburn's first head basketball coach
Bruce Alan Pearl, born on March 18, 1960, is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the head coach of the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team and is the school's all-time leader in wins. Pearl became Auburn's head coach in 2014, replacing Tony Barbee. He previously served in the same position for Tennessee, Milwaukee, and Southern Indiana.
Pearl won his first game as Auburn's head coach on November 14, 2014, against his former school, Milwaukee, 83–73. Despite failing to finish with a winning record in his first two seasons at Auburn, Pearl led the team to some significant wins. In 2015, he guided Auburn to the SEC tournament semifinals as a 13-seed, and in 2016, he ended the team's 18-game losing streak to Kentucky.
Pearl is one of the few college basketball coaching greats who didn't play college basketball himself. He worked his way up from being a long-time understudy to Dr. Tom Davis before landing his first head coaching job at Division II Southern Indiana. Pearl has been in charge of the team's academics at Auburn, and since he arrived, the Tigers have graduated 32 student-athletes, the most in the SEC.
In terms of on-court achievements, Pearl has led Auburn to some of its greatest successes. In 2018, the Tigers won the SEC regular-season title, and in 2019, they won the SEC Tournament and reached the Final Four for the first time in program history. That year, Pearl's team also tied for 4th in the conference and won the SEC Conference tournament by defeating Tennessee in the championship game 84–64, giving Auburn its second SEC tournament championship. In the 2019 NCAA tournament, Pearl's Auburn team narrowly defeated #12 seed New Mexico State 78–77 in the first round.
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Auburn's performance in the NCAA tournament
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball team has a rich history in the NCAA Tournament, with 14 appearances and several notable achievements.
The Tigers first appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 1984 under head coach Sonny Smith, reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 1986 and the Elite Eight in 1988. Smith led Auburn to the NCAA Tournament in five consecutive seasons from 1984 to 1988, establishing a strong foundation for the program.
In the 1998-99 season, under the leadership of coach Cliff Ellis, Auburn secured its first-ever #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, showcasing their prowess on the national stage. Ellis guided Auburn to the NCAA Tournament two more times, reaching the Second Round in 2000 and returning to the Sweet Sixteen in 2003.
Auburn experienced a resurgence in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, reaching the Final Four for the first time in program history. Led by coach Bruce Pearl, who became the head coach in 2014, the Tigers defeated Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky before falling to Virginia in a closely contested game. Pearl's tactical acumen and ability to develop talent played a pivotal role in Auburn's success.
In 2025, Auburn, led by SEC Player of the Year Johni Broome, earned the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament. Despite a few setbacks, including a loss to Florida in the regular season, Auburn demonstrated its resilience and determination to bounce back. They reached the Final Four for the second time in program history, solidifying their status as a formidable contender in college basketball.
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Auburn's performance in the SEC tournament
Auburn Tigers have had a successful run in the SEC tournament. In 2024, the Auburn men's basketball team won the SEC Tournament Championship for the third time in the program's history, beating the Florida Gators 86-67. This was their second SEC tournament championship under coach Bruce Pearl, who is now the only coach to have led Auburn to multiple titles in the conference tournament.
Auburn's first SEC tournament championship was in 1985 under coach Smith, who also led the team to its first NCAA tournament that year. The Tigers won their second SEC tournament championship in 2019, the same year they reached their first Final Four in the NCAA tournament. In 2022, they won another regular-season championship, and in 2023, they won their third SEC tournament championship.
In the 2024 SEC Tournament Championship game, Auburn led Florida 38-30 at halftime. Florida made a comeback in the second half, cutting Auburn's lead to one point. However, Auburn pulled away with a 12-2 run and never lost the momentum. All-SEC center Johni Broome finished with a game-high 19 points and 11 rebounds and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. With this win, Auburn improved to a 5-4 record against Florida in SEC Tournament games.
Auburn has had a strong basketball program for many years, with a total of five SEC regular-season championships in 1928, 1960, 1999, 2018, and 2022. The Tigers have also reached the NIT (National Invitation Tournament) three times and made it to the Elite Eight in 1986, losing to the eventual national champion, Louisville.
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Auburn Tigers men's basketball history against Duke University
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball team has faced off against Duke University several times in their history, with Duke currently holding the advantage in the matchup.
The first game between the two teams took place on December 26, 1975, in Raleigh, North Carolina, with Duke coming out on top, 85-74. This was followed by another victory for Duke on December 30, 1963, in New Orleans, Louisiana, by a score of 84-67. The Tigers came close to securing their first win against Duke on December 30, 1981, in Durham, North Carolina, but ultimately fell short, losing 72-71.
On December 4, 2024, the Auburn Tigers, ranked No. 2 in the country, faced off against the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Duke, led by freshman sensation Cooper Flagg's 22 points and 11 rebounds, emerged victorious with a final score of 84-78. This marked Duke's fourth consecutive win against Auburn, with the Tigers yet to secure a victory over the Blue Devils.
The rivalry between the Auburn Tigers and Duke University has been intense and competitive, with both teams showcasing their talent and determination on the court. The Tigers, despite their winless record against Duke, have always put up a strong fight, and the games have often been closely contested. The matchup between the two teams has been a highlight of the college basketball season, with fans and commentators alike eagerly anticipating the outcome.
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Frequently asked questions
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball team of Auburn University. The team competes in the Southeastern Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
As of March 8, 2025, Auburn Tigers men's basketball has a record of 101 wins and 69 losses against Alabama.
As of December 4, 2024, Auburn Tigers men's basketball has a record of 4 wins and 0 losses against Duke.
Auburn has appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times, making it as far as the Final Four in 2019 and 2025.
