Amanda Knapp
Auburn has been a force to be reckoned with in the SEC basketball tournament, securing a share of the regular season SEC championship in 2022 and clinching the title again in 2025. With their skilled players and exceptional coaching, Auburn has consistently delivered impressive performances, reaching the Final Four and showcasing their dominance in the highly competitive SEC conference. Auburn's success in the SEC tournament has been a testament to their talent and determination, solidifying their place as a top contender in college basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Auburn's SEC regular-season championship wins | 5 |
| Auburn's SEC tournament championship wins | 2 |
| Auburn's Final Four appearances | 2 |
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What You'll Learn
Auburn's SEC tournament history
Auburn Tigers men's basketball has a rich history in the SEC tournament. 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 in 2019 and 2025.
Auburn won its first SEC tournament championship in 1985 under coach Sonny Smith, defeating Alabama 53-49 in overtime. This was the first time any team had won four games in four days to claim the SEC Tournament title. Smith also led Auburn to its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in 1984 and was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1984 and 1988.
In 2019, under head coach Bruce Pearl, Auburn claimed its second SEC tournament championship. The Tigers earned a bye in the regular season and defeated Missouri, South Carolina, and Florida before crushing Tennessee 84-64 in the final. This same year, the Tigers reached the Final Four for the first time in the NCAA tournament. Bruce Pearl was named SEC Coach of the Year for the first time at Auburn.
In 2024, Auburn, led by Bruce Pearl, won its third SEC tournament championship. They defeated South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Florida en route to their second tournament title under Pearl's leadership. In the 2024-25 season, Auburn won its sixth regular-season conference championship and Pearl was named SEC Coach of the Year for the second time. The Tigers went on to reach the Final Four in the 2025 NCAA tournament.
Auburn has a long-standing rivalry with Alabama in the SEC Tournament, having met nine times, including the 1985 championship game. Additionally, Auburn has a historic rivalry with Georgia, dating back to their first meeting in 1908. The Tigers have faced Georgia annually since 1945 and lead the all-time series.
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Bruce Pearl's coaching record
Bruce Alan Pearl, born on March 18, 1960, is the head coach of the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team. Pearl was hired as Auburn's head coach in March 2014, and since then, he has achieved notable successes with the team.
Pearl has an impressive overall coaching record, with 662 wins and 264 losses as of 2024. His record specifically with Auburn stands at 200 wins and 119 losses, making him the school's leader in wins. During his time at Auburn, he has led the team to the SEC Tournament title twice, in 2019 and 2024, and to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in the program's history in 2019. In 2022, Pearl's Tigers achieved a #1 ranking in the AP Poll, another first for the program.
Before joining Auburn, Pearl served as the head coach at Tennessee, Milwaukee, and Southern Indiana. His record at Tennessee was 145-61, and he led the team to three SEC regular-season titles. At Milwaukee, he had a record of 86-38, and at Southern Indiana, he compiled a remarkable 231-46 record, winning a Division II national championship in 1995.
Pearl's coaching career has also had its challenges. He was involved in a recruiting scandal in 1988 while at Iowa as an assistant coach, and later at Tennessee, he faced NCAA investigations for recruiting violations. Despite these setbacks, Pearl has established himself as a highly successful coach, earning accolades such as being named Coach of the Year by Sporting News in 2006 and securing a place in the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2008.
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Auburn's performance against Kentucky
Auburn's victory was characterized by strong defensive play, holding Kentucky to a season-tying low of four 3-pointers in the game and only one 3-pointer in the first half, despite the Wildcats averaging 9.9 3-pointers per game. Auburn's guards were exceptional, with Miles Kelly leading the team with 30 points and making nine 3-pointers. This was Kelly's third career 30-point game and his first with Auburn. Tahaad Pettiford also contributed significantly with 21 points, four assists, and zero turnovers, showcasing his talent as a freshman guard.
The Tigers' win against Kentucky demonstrated their resilience and determination, overcoming a challenging venue and a strong opponent. It highlighted the team's depth and ability to perform under pressure. Auburn's performance against Kentucky contributed to their success in the SEC and bolstered their reputation as a force to be reckoned with in college basketball.
Auburn's success in the SEC basketball tournament extends beyond their victory over Kentucky. In recent years, they have consistently performed well, winning the SEC regular-season championship in 2018, 2022, and 2025, and the SEC Tournament championships in 2019 and 2024. Their performance in the 2024 SEC Tournament was particularly notable, as they defeated Florida in the title game with a commanding score of 86-67. Auburn's head coach, Bruce Pearl, has been instrumental in the team's success, with the 2025 SEC championship being his fifth at Auburn and tenth overall.
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Tennessee's close win over Auburn
Tennessee stunned the Auburn Tigers in the SEC Tournament semifinals with a close 70-65 win. The Tennessee Vols entered the SEC Tournament as underdogs, with many predicting they would not make it past the semifinals. However, they proved everyone wrong and pulled off a remarkable victory over a strong Auburn team.
The game was a defensive battle, with both teams showcasing their defensive prowess. Tennessee, with the third-best defensive rating in the country, and Auburn, ranked 20th, ensured that the game was a low-scoring affair. The offenses struggled to find a rhythm, with Tennessee shooting 31% from the field and Auburn not far behind at 31%. The first half saw both teams combine for just one made 3-pointer, with Auburn's Johni Broome providing the lone highlight from beyond the arc.
Tennessee's leading scorer stepped up in the crucial moments, draining a shot to put the Vols in the lead. The visitors' offense came alive in the closing stages, and they maintained their slim advantage. Zeigler and Mashack were clutch for Tennessee, each making free throws to extend the lead to a game-high four points. Auburn refused to go down without a fight and answered with a jumper from Tahaad Pettiford to cut the deficit to just two points.
With the game on the line, Tennessee had a chance to either tie the game or take the win. However, Zeigler missed a corner three-pointer with only ten seconds remaining, sealing the game in Auburn's favour. This win was a thrilling upset for Tennessee, and it showcased the determination and resilience of the team.
Tennessee's victory over Auburn in the SEC Tournament semifinals was a hard-fought and closely contested game. Both teams displayed tremendous defensive intensity, making it challenging for offenses to find their rhythm. Tennessee's ability to draw fouls and make crucial free throws down the stretch proved to be a deciding factor in their narrow victory.
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Auburn's road to the Final Four
Auburn has had a successful few years in the SEC basketball tournament, winning the regular-season championship twice in four seasons. In 2025, they won the toughest conference in America by one game, reaching the Final Four.
In the 2024-25 season, Auburn faced Tennessee in the semifinals of the SEC tournament, losing 70-65. However, they bounced back to defeat Kentucky 94-78 at Rupp Arena, where they hadn't won in 37 years. This win secured a share of the SEC regular-season championship.
In the NCAA tournament, Auburn was the top seed in the South Region, facing the Alabama State-St. Francis winner in the first round. They advanced to the Elite Eight, where they beat Michigan State 70-64 to secure their place in the Final Four. This was Auburn's second Final Four appearance, with the first also coming under coach Bruce Pearl in 2019.
In the Final Four, Auburn faced Florida, the West Region champion, in an all-Southeastern Conference semifinal. Florida had an impressive season, winning the SEC title for the first time since 2014 and improving to 5-2 in top-10 matchups. Auburn's key to success against Florida was limiting their opportunities and defending the 3-point arc effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Auburn is in the SEC basketball tournament.
Auburn won a share of the SEC regular-season championship but lost to Tennessee in the semifinals of the SEC tournament.
Auburn played Tennessee in the SEC tournament semifinals.
Bruce Pearl is the head coach of the Auburn Tigers.
Bruce Pearl has won the SEC championship five times, four of which were at Auburn.
