Amanda Knapp
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball team has a rich history, with notable alumni including NBA stars Charles Barkley, Chuck Person, and Chris Porter. While the team has enjoyed intermittent success, they have never won the National Championship in basketball. However, they have won six conference regular season championships and three SEC tournament championships. Auburn has a strong rivalry with Alabama, dating back to 1924, and has appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times, reaching the Final Four in 2019 and 2025. Auburn's football and golf teams have had more success, with multiple national championships and SEC titles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of national championships | 0 |
| Number of Final Four appearances | 2 |
| Number of SEC regular season championships | 6 |
| Number of SEC tournament championships | 3 |
| Number of NCAA tournament appearances | 14 |
| Number of All-Americans | 14 |
| Number of All-SEC selections | 102 |
| Number of NBA draft picks | 36 |
| Number of SEC Players of the Year | 3 |
| Number of SEC Coach of the Year awards | 4 |
| Number of seasons | 119 |
| Overall record | 1510-1256-1 |
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What You'll Learn
Auburn Tigers men's basketball history
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball team represents Auburn University and competes in the Southeastern Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The team began in 1906 with head coach Mike "Iron Mike" Donahue, who has the longest tenure of any men's basketball coach in Auburn history.
Auburn has a fierce rivalry with Alabama, dating back to 1924. The two teams first met in the Southern Conference Tournament, with Auburn losing 19-40. They did not meet again until 1941, and Auburn lost again, this time 16-38. The programs have played each other regularly since 1948, meeting at least twice every season from 1949 onwards. Auburn's first win in the rivalry came in their sixth meeting on December 20, 1949, when they beat Alabama 45-40. Alabama leads the head-to-head series 103-69.
Auburn won its first SEC championship in 1960 under coach Joel Eaves, finishing with a 12-2 conference record and a 19-3 overall record. Eaves was named SEC Coach of the Year and was later inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1978. Auburn's Memorial Coliseum was renamed after him in 1987 and then renamed again in 1993 to include Sonny Smith, who coached the team from 1978 to 1989. Smith led Auburn to its first-ever NCAA tournament in 1984 and its first SEC tournament championship in 1985.
Cliff Ellis was the head coach of Auburn from 1994 to 2004. His most successful season was 1998-99, when he led the Tigers to an SEC regular-season championship and the program's first-ever #1 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they reached the Sweet Sixteen. Ellis was named SEC and National Coach of the Year in 1999.
Bruce Pearl became the head coach of Auburn in 2014. He has led the team to three SEC regular-season championships (2018, 2022, and 2025) and three SEC tournament championships (2019, 2024, and 2025). Pearl was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2025. Under Pearl, Auburn reached the Final Four in the NCAA tournament for the first time in 2019 and again in 2025.
Auburn has appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times and has reached the Sweet Sixteen six times. The team has produced 36 NBA draft picks, including Jabari Smith, who was selected third overall in 2022, the highest pick in Auburn history. Three Auburn players have been named SEC Player of the Year: Charles Barkley (1984), Chris Porter (1999), and Johni Broome (2025).
Despite their successes, Auburn has never won the National Championship and has never played in an NCAA Tournament Final.
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Auburn's NCAA Tournament appearances
Auburn Tigers men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times. The team first qualified for the tournament in 1984, under the leadership of coach Sonny Smith. Smith led the team to the NCAA tournament for five consecutive seasons, from 1984 to 1988. In 1986, the team advanced to the Elite Eight but lost to Louisville, the eventual national champion.
Cliff Ellis, the 17th head coach of the Auburn Tigers, took over in 1994. In the 1998–99 season, Ellis led the Tigers to their first-ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they reached the Sweet Sixteen. Ellis took Auburn to the NCAA tournament two more times, reaching the Second Round in 2000 and returning to the Sweet Sixteen in 2003.
Bruce Pearl became the head coach of the Auburn Tigers in 2014. Pearl led the team to its first-ever Final Four in the 2019 NCAA tournament. In 2025, Pearl guided the Tigers to their second Final Four appearance in the NCAA tournament. Pearl is the winningest coach in Auburn basketball history, with over 200 wins.
Overall, the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team has reached the Final Four twice and the Sweet Sixteen six times. The team has never won the National Championship or played in an NCAA Tournament Final.
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Auburn's SEC Tournament performance
Auburn Tigers men's basketball, representing Auburn University, has had an on-and-off successful run over the years. The team has won six conference regular season championships and three SEC tournament championships. Auburn has appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times, reaching the Final Four twice in 2019 and 2025.
Auburn won its first SEC championship in 1960, finishing 12-2 in the conference and 19-3 overall. The team's first-ever NCAA tournament was in 1984, and they won their first SEC tournament championship in 1985. The Tigers have reached the Sweet Sixteen six times in program history, in 1985, 1986, 1999, 2003, 2019, and 2025.
Auburn's most notable rivals include Alabama, Georgia, Florida Gators, Tennessee Volunteers, and Tulane Green Wave. The rivalry with Alabama dates back to 1924, with Auburn losing their first meeting in the Southern Conference Tournament. They first met in the SEC tournament in 1941, with Auburn losing again. Alabama leads the series 103-69.
Auburn has shared the SEC Western Division championship eight times between 2000 and 2011 with LSU, winning it outright in 2000, 2004, and 2010. The Tigers defeated the University of South Carolina 56-17 in 2010 to claim the SEC Championship, setting records for most points scored and largest margin of victory.
Under Bruce Pearl, who became the head coach in 2014, Auburn won its third SEC regular-season championship in the 2017-18 season and its second and third SEC tournament championships in 2019 and 2024, respectively. Pearl led the team to its first Final Four in the 2019 NCAA tournament and another in 2025, solidifying his place in Auburn basketball history.
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Auburn's most successful coaches
Auburn University's men's basketball team, the Auburn Tigers, has never won the National Championship. The Tigers have, however, reached the Final Four twice, in 2019 and 2025.
Auburn has had 20 head coaches in its history, with Mike "Iron Mike" Donahue serving as the first from 1906 to 1922. Here is a look at some of Auburn's most successful coaches:
Joel Eaves (1949-1963)
Auburn won its first-ever SEC championship under Eaves in 1960, finishing 12-2 in the conference and 19-3 overall. Eaves was named SEC Coach of the Year following the 1960 season. He finished with a 213–100 (.681) record at Auburn and was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1978. Auburn's Memorial Coliseum was renamed after him in 1987.
Sonny Smith (1978-1989)
Sonny Smith was the 15th head coach of the Auburn Tigers. He coached Auburn to the NCAA tournament in five consecutive seasons, from 1984 to 1988, including a run to the Elite Eight in 1986. Smith led Auburn to its first-ever NCAA tournament in 1984 and its first SEC tournament championship in 1985.
Cliff Ellis (1994-2004)
Cliff Ellis was the 17th head coach of the Auburn Tigers. He was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1995. In the 1998–99 season, Ellis led the Tigers to an SEC regular-season championship and the program's first-ever #1 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they reached the Sweet Sixteen. For his achievements, Ellis was named both SEC and National Coach of the Year in 1999. Ellis took Auburn to the NCAA tournament two more times, reaching the Second Round in 2000 and returning to the Sweet Sixteen in 2003.
Bruce Pearl (2014-present)
Bruce Pearl became Auburn's 20th head coach in 2014. He has led Auburn to three SEC regular-season championships (2018, 2022, and 2025) and three SEC tournament championships (2019, 2024, and 2025). Pearl was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2025. He led Auburn to its first-ever Final Four in the 2019 NCAA tournament and repeated the feat in 2025. On January 7, 2025, Pearl surpassed Joel Eaves to become the winningest coach in Auburn basketball history.
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Auburn's most notable players
Auburn has produced 36 NBA draft picks, including 10 first-round picks, and five players who transferred to another school before being selected in the NBA draft. Some of the most notable players in Auburn's basketball history include:
Charles Barkley
Barkley led Auburn to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1983-84. He went on to play 16 seasons in the NBA and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Mike Mitchell
Mitchell is one of only two players in Auburn history to make an All-SEC team four times. He left Auburn as the school's all-time leader in points and rebounds.
Eddie Johnson
A dynamic guard who played for Auburn in the late 1970s, Johnson was known for his quickness, court vision, and scoring ability. He was named to the All-SEC First Team and earned a spot on the SEC All-Tournament Team.
Marquis Daniels
Marquis Daniels joined the Auburn Tigers in the late 1990s and was known for his versatility and all-around contribution to the game. He was a relentless defender and an efficient scorer, earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors and a place on the All-SEC First Team.
Chris Porter
A high-flying forward, Chris Porter was a standout player for Auburn in the late 1990s, known for his rebounding skills and powerful dunks.
Wes Flanigan
Wes Flanigan was a two-time All-SEC selection and is second on the all-time Auburn assists list. In his junior season, he led the SEC in assists, and he averaged 11 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in his senior year after returning from successful surgery on his arm.
Auburn has also had notable coaches, including Cliff Ellis, who was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1995 and National Coach of the Year in 1999, and Bruce Pearl, who became the winningest coach in Auburn basketball history in 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
Auburn basketball has never won the National Championship.
Yes, Auburn has reached the Final Four twice in 2019 and 2025.
Auburn has appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times.
Auburn has won six conference regular-season championships.
Auburn has won three SEC tournament championships.
