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Auburn University's basketball team, the Auburn Tigers, has been making waves in the world of college basketball. With a storied football program, the Tigers' basketball team has also seen success on the court, making it to the Final Four in 2019 and 2025. The team has produced 35 NBA draft picks, including 10 first-round selections, and has had six head coaches selected as SEC Coach of the Year. With a talented squad and a persuasive coach, Bruce Pearl, the Tigers are looking to bring home their first national championship and solidify their place as a top basketball school.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of national basketball championships | 0 |
| Number of conference regular season championships | 6 |
| Number of SEC tournament championships | 3 |
| Number of appearances in the NCAA tournament | 14 |
| Number of appearances in the Final Four | 2 |
| Number of All-Americans | 14 |
| Number of All-SEC selections | 102 |
| Number of NBA draft picks | 35 |
| Highest NBA draft pick | 3rd overall (Jabari Smith, 2022) |
| Number of players named SEC Player of the Year | 3 |
| Number of head coaches selected as SEC Coach of the Year | 6 |
| Number of head coaches named National Coach of the Year | 2 |
| Number of head men's basketball coaches | 20 |
| Current head coach | Bruce Pearl |
| Current record of head coach | 232–124 (.652) |
| School colours | Burnt orange and navy blue |
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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 (SEC) in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Tigers play their home games at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama, on the university campus. The program began in 1906 with Mike "Iron Mike" Donahue as the first head coach, and the current coach is Bruce Pearl, who was appointed in 2014.
Auburn has had 20 head coaches in its history, with Cliff Ellis being the 17th, serving from 1994 to 2004. During his tenure, Ellis led Auburn to the NIT three times in his first four seasons and was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1995. His most successful season was in 1998–99, when the Tigers won the SEC regular season championship and earned their first-ever #1 seed in the NCAA tournament, reaching the Sweet Sixteen.
Bruce Pearl, the current head coach, has had a significant impact on Auburn's basketball program. Before his appointment, he faced NCAA violations during his time at Tennessee, which resulted in a three-year show cause that banned him from recruiting. However, in 2014, Auburn's former athletic director, Jay Jacobs, offered Pearl a chance to coach the Tigers. Since then, Pearl has led Auburn to three SEC regular-season championships (2017-18, 2021-22, and 2024-25) and two SEC tournament championships (2019 and 2024). He was named SEC Coach of the Year twice, in 2022 and 2025.
In terms of player achievements, Auburn has produced 35 NBA draft picks, including 10 first-round selections. The highest draft pick from Auburn was Jabari Smith, selected third overall in the 2022 draft. Additionally, Auburn has had five players transfer to another school before being selected in the NBA draft. The program has also produced several undrafted free agents who went on to have NBA careers. Auburn's first NBA player was Charles Barkley, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
The Tigers have a long-standing rivalry with the University of Georgia, dating back to their first meeting in 1908. Auburn has dominated this rivalry, leading the all-time series 104-97. Another notable rivalry is with UAB, with Auburn leading the series 11-10. The student section at Auburn is known as "The Jungle," which was chosen through a vote at the start of the 2011-12 season.
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Bruce Pearl's coaching career
Bruce Alan Pearl, born on March 18, 1960, is the current head coach of the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team, where he is the school's all-time leader in wins. Pearl's career as a basketball coach spans nearly three decades and includes stints at various colleges and universities across the United States.
Pearl's coaching career began at his alma mater, Boston College, where he served as a student assistant coach under Tom Davis. After 14 seasons, he moved on to become an assistant coach at Stanford in 1982 and was later promoted to associate head coach. During his time at Stanford, they ended a streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons and recruited several players who went on to be drafted by the NBA. In 1986, Pearl followed Davis to Iowa, where he served as an assistant coach for six years.
Pearl's first head coaching position was at Southern Indiana, where he had a successful nine-year tenure from 1992 to 2001, leading the team to the NCAA Tournament each season and achieving a remarkable 231-46 record. He then moved on to Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he took the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament twice, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2005. After his impressive run at Milwaukee, Pearl was hired by Tennessee in 2005, and he led the team to six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet Sixteen and one Elite Eight finish.
However, Pearl's career hit a roadblock in 2011 when he was fired by Tennessee due to NCAA violations. He was hit with a three-year show cause penalty, which essentially banned him from coaching during that period. After serving his penalty, Pearl made a comeback in 2014 as the head coach of Auburn, leading the team to multiple SEC regular-season and tournament championships. In 2019, he guided Auburn to its first-ever Final Four appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and he repeated this feat in 2025. Pearl has been named SEC Coach of the Year twice and was also recognized as National Coach of the Year in 2025.
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Auburn's rivalry with Georgia
Auburn University's basketball team, the Auburn Tigers, has enjoyed success in recent years, thanks in part to head coach Bruce Pearl. The team reached the Final Four in 2019 and 2025, and Pearl was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2025. The Tigers play their home games at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama, and the program has produced 35 NBA draft picks, including 10 first-round selections.
Auburn's oldest rivalry is with the University of Georgia, with the two schools first meeting on the basketball court in 1908 in Columbus, Georgia. The rivalry between Auburn and Georgia, known as the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry," dates back to the early days of collegiate football in the region. The first college football game between the two schools was played on February 20, 1892, in Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia, with Auburn winning 10-0. The rivalry has been contested almost annually since, with only a few interruptions due to World War I, World War II, and other factors.
The interconnection between the two schools is a notable aspect of the rivalry, with many individuals having played or coached at both institutions. Georgia's winningest head coach, Vince Dooley, earned his degrees at Auburn while playing football and beginning his coaching career. Pat Dye, a former Auburn head coach, was a standout player at Georgia, and Shug Jordan, a former Auburn coach, also had stints as an assistant football coach and head basketball coach at Georgia. The rivalry is characterised by close contests and passionate fanbases, with Georgia fans storming the field after an upset victory in 1986, leading to a chaotic response from Auburn that included turning on the stadium's sprinkler system.
The Auburn-Georgia rivalry is not limited to the football field, as the two schools also compete in other sports, including basketball. The basketball rivalry between the two schools is also intense, with Auburn leading the all-time series 104-97 as of 2025. The games between the two teams are often closely contested, and the rivalry has been renewed annually since 1945, showcasing the long-standing competitive history between the two institutions.
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Auburn's notable basketball players
Auburn University's basketball team, the Auburn Tigers, has produced several notable players over the years. The Tigers' basketball program began in 1906, and the team has since won six conference regular-season championships and three SEC tournament championships. Auburn has appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times, reaching the Final Four in 2019 and 2025. The university has produced 35 NBA draft picks, including 10 first-round selections.
One of the most famous Auburn Tigers players is Charles Barkley, who played for the team in the early 1980s. Known for his rebounding skills and tenacious playing style, Barkley dominated the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He was named SEC Player of the Year in 1984 and earned consensus First Team All-American honours. Barkley went on to have a successful NBA career and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Another notable Auburn Tigers player is Chuck Person, who joined the team in the early 1980s. Person stood out for his versatility, size, shooting ability, and court vision. He was a prolific scorer and excelled in multiple positions on the court. Marquis Daniels, who played for the Tigers in the late 1990s, is also remembered for his relentless defence and efficient scoring. Daniels was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and the All-SEC First Team.
Other notable Auburn Tigers players include Chris Morris, a dominant presence on the court in the mid-1980s, and Chris Porter, who was named SEC Player of the Year in 1999. More recently, Jabari Smith was selected as the third overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, the highest draft pick in Auburn's history. Additionally, Johni Broome was named SEC Player of the Year in 2025.
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Auburn's basketball colours and branding
Auburn University's basketball team, the Auburn Tigers, has a rich history dating back to 1906. The team's colours, blue and orange, are iconic and instantly recognisable. The official colours are HEX CODE: #0C2340 for Auburn blue and HEX CODE: #E87722 for Auburn orange. These colours are used across the team's branding, jerseys, and merchandise, creating a cohesive and distinctive visual identity.
The Auburn Tigers logo features the team colours in a font called Galliard, designed by Matthew Carter in 1978. The logo is a vital element of the team's branding, appearing on jerseys, marketing materials, and merchandise. The logo has evolved over time, with some variations featuring a leaping tiger through the letter "A", a block "A", or the team name in copperplate font.
The Auburn Tigers brand also extends beyond the basketball team. The university's seal, a scalloped design, is used in official capacities and on diplomas. The university's primary academic mark was once the Samford Tower, but it has been replaced by other marks over time. The War Eagle mark, featuring a golden eagle, is another popular symbol associated with the university and its athletic teams.
The Auburn Tigers basketball team has a strong following, with dedicated fans packing the Neville Arena during their campaigns. The team's student section, known as "The Jungle", adds to the vibrant atmosphere of the games. The team's success, including conference championships and appearances in the NCAA tournament, has contributed to the growth of the Auburn Tigers brand in collegiate basketball.
The team's branding and colours are not just limited to the basketball court. The Auburn Power Stripe, made famous by the university's football helmets, is also used in digital branding, uniforms, and even the State of Alabama license plate for Auburn University. This helps create a unified visual identity across different sports and promotional platforms, solidifying the Auburn Tigers brand in the world of college athletics.
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Frequently asked questions
Auburn is a basketball school and has a dedicated men's basketball program. 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 Auburn Tigers basketball program began in 1906 and is currently coached by Bruce Pearl, who became Auburn's 20th head coach in 2014. Auburn has won six conference regular season championships and three SEC tournament championships. Auburn has appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times, making it as far as the Final Four in 2019 and 2025.
Auburn has produced 35 NBA draft picks, including 10 first-round picks. Notable players include Charles Barkley, a former Auburn player inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006, and Jabari Smith, who was selected third overall in the 2022 NBA draft. Bruce Pearl, the current head coach, has been instrumental in Auburn's recent success, leading the team to multiple SEC championships and becoming the winningest coach in Auburn basketball history in 2025.
The colours of the Auburn Tigers basketball team are burnt orange and navy blue.
