Amanda Knapp
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball team has a rich history, having appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times and the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 6 times. They have won six conference regular-season championships and three SEC tournament championships. In 2025, Auburn made it to the Final Four in the NCAA tournament for the second time, having previously achieved this feat in 2019. With a strong performance in the SEC tournament, where they lost to Tennessee in the semifinals, the Tigers are in a good position to compete in the NCAA tournament. Led by coach Bruce Pearl, Auburn has consistently demonstrated their prowess in the sport, and their performance in the ongoing season indicates that they are still in the running for the championship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is Auburn still in the basketball tournament? | Yes, as of March 2025, Auburn is still in the NCAA basketball tournament. |
| How is Auburn performing in the tournament? | Auburn lost to Tennessee in the SEC tournament semifinals. They have 16 Quad 1 wins this season, which is more than any other team in the country. |
| Who is the coach of Auburn? | Bruce Pearl |
| Who are Auburn's key players? | Johni Broome, Jabari Smith, Walker Kessler |
| How many times has Auburn appeared in the NCAA tournament? | 14 times |
| How many Auburn players have been named All-Americans? | 14 |
| How many Auburn players have been named SEC Player of the Year? | 3 (Charles Barkley, Chris Porter, Johni Broome) |
| How many NBA draft picks has Auburn produced? | 35, including 10 first-round picks |
| How many times has Auburn won the SEC regular-season championship? | 6 times |
| How many times has Auburn won the SEC tournament championship? | 3 times |
| How many times has Auburn appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT)? | 6 times |
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What You'll Learn
Auburn Tigers men's basketball team history in the NCAA tournament
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball team has had a relatively modest history in the NCAA Tournament, with 14 appearances as of the 2025 season. The team first appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 1984 under head coach Sonny Smith, who led the team to five consecutive tournament appearances from 1984 to 1988, including a run to the Elite Eight in 1986.
In the 1998-99 season, head coach Cliff Ellis led the Tigers to their first #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they reached the Sweet Sixteen. Ellis coached Auburn for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 and finished with a record of 186-125, the second-most wins in school history.
Bruce Pearl became the head coach of the Auburn Tigers in 2014 and has since led the team to three Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular-season championships and two SEC tournament championships. In 2019, Pearl guided Auburn to its first-ever Final Four in the NCAA Tournament.
As of the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, the Auburn Tigers earned a historic #1 overall seed in the South Region, marking their 14th appearance in the tournament. The Tigers have a record of 19-13 in NCAA Tournament games and 7-5 under head coach Bruce Pearl.
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Auburn's performance in the 2025 NCAA tournament
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball team had a strong performance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, making it to the Final Four. This was the second time the team had reached this stage, the first being in 2019.
The Tigers, led by head coach Bruce Pearl, started the 2024-25 season strongly, with a record of 27-8 in the previous season and carrying that momentum forward. They won their third SEC regular-season championship under Pearl, who was named SEC Coach of the Year for the second time. The team played their home games at the Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama, and had a talented roster with players like JT Toppin, who averaged 18.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 1.2 BPG.
In the NCAA Tournament, Auburn was a No. 1 seed and lived up to the billing, at least in the early going. They defeated No. 9 Creighton 82-70 in the second round, setting up a matchup with the No. 5 seed Michigan Wolverines in the next round. However, their road to a potential national championship also included other strong teams like Duke, led by Wooden Award favorite Cooper Flagg, and Texas Tech, with Lubbock's superstar talent, JT Toppin.
Auburn's regular-season finish was 4-3, including losses to Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, and Florida, but they also had notable wins over Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Auburn. Their record was 28-5, and they were ranked highly in offensive and defensive efficiency, making them a legitimate contender.
Overall, Auburn's performance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament was impressive, reaching the Final Four and showcasing their talent and determination.
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Auburn's 2022 NCAA tournament performance
Auburn University's men's basketball team, the Auburn Tigers, has had a rich history in the NCAA Tournament, with 14 appearances to their name. The Tigers' performance in the 2022 NCAA Tournament was particularly noteworthy.
After a two-year absence from the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a self-imposed postseason ban, the Auburn Tigers entered the 2022 NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region. The team was led by head coach Bruce Pearl, who had previously guided the Tigers to their first Final Four appearance in 2019.
The Tigers' 2022 roster featured All-American frontcourt players Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler. In their first-round game, the Tigers defeated Jacksonville State by a score of 80-61. This win set up a second-round matchup against the 10th-seeded Miami Hurricanes, which Auburn lost 79-61, ending their 2022 NCAA Tournament run.
Despite falling short in the second round, the Auburn Tigers' 2022 NCAA Tournament performance added to their legacy in college basketball. The team's appearance in the tournament marked their 11th trip to March Madness, showcasing their consistent presence in the sport's biggest stage.
Auburn's men's basketball program has a proud tradition, with six conference regular-season championships and three SEC tournament championships. The team plays its home games at Neville Arena, which has a seating capacity of 9,121, making it the smallest men's basketball arena in the SEC.
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Auburn's highest-ever seed in the NCAA tournament
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball team has had quite a successful run in recent years, making it to the NCAA tournament multiple times and achieving notable results. In the 2024-25 season, Auburn achieved its highest-ever seed in the NCAA tournament.
Led by SEC Player of the Year Johni Broome, the Auburn Tigers secured the No. 1 overall seed for the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. This achievement marked a historic moment for the team, as they earned one of a league-record 14 bids and made their 14th appearance in the NCAA tournament. The Tigers dominated the Southeastern Conference regular season, finishing with an impressive 28-5 record.
As the top seed in the South Region, Auburn faced off against the winners of the NCAA First Four matchup between the 16th-seeded Alabama State and 16th-seeded Saint Francis. This game took place on March 20, 2025, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, with Auburn aiming to continue their winning streak. With Bruce Pearl as their head coach, the Auburn Tigers had a 7-5 record in the NCAA Tournament games up to that point.
Auburn's journey to becoming the No. 1 seed in 2025 built upon a strong foundation of basketball excellence. The team had previously reached the Final Four in the 2019 and 2022 NCAA tournaments, showcasing their consistent performance. Auburn's first-ever NCAA tournament appearance was in 1984, and they have since established themselves as a formidable contender in collegiate basketball.
The 2025 season stood out as a pinnacle moment for the Auburn Tigers, as they not only achieved their highest seed in the NCAA tournament but also showcased their dominance in the Southeastern Conference. With a talented roster, exceptional coaching, and a determination to succeed, the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team carved their place in the annals of collegiate basketball history.
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Auburn's performance in the SEC tournament
Auburn Tigers, the intercollegiate men's basketball team representing Auburn University, has had quite a successful run in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) tournament. The team has won the SEC tournament three times: in 1985 under coach Sonny Smith, and in 2019 and 2024 under Bruce Pearl, who became the coach in 2014. In 2025, they made it to the Final Four in the NCAA tournament.
The Auburn Tigers won their first-ever SEC championship in 1960 under coach Eaves, finishing with a 12-2 record in the conference and a 19-3 overall record. Eaves was named the SEC Coach of the Year for the 1960 season and was later inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1978. The Auburn Memorial Coliseum was renamed the Joel H. Eaves Memorial Coliseum in his honour in 1987.
Sonny Smith, who coached the team from 1978 to 1989, led Auburn to its first SEC tournament championship in 1985. They defeated Alabama 53-49 in overtime, becoming the first team ever to win four games in four days to claim the SEC Tournament. Smith also led Auburn to its first NCAA tournament in 1984 and to the Elite Eight in 1986, where they lost to the eventual national champion, Louisville.
Bruce Pearl, the current head coach, has led Auburn to three SEC regular-season championships (2017-18, 2021-22, and 2024-25) and two SEC tournament championships (2019 and 2024). In 2019, the Tigers earned a bye in the tournament during the regular season and won games against Missouri, South Carolina, and Florida before crushing Tennessee in the final game 84-64. In 2024, Auburn defeated South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Florida en route to their second tournament title under Pearl. The Tigers' 2024 victory over Florida, with a score of 86-67, gave them their third SEC Tournament title and second under Pearl. This win also made Pearl the only coach to lead Auburn to multiple titles in the conference tournament.
In the 2024-25 season, Auburn won the SEC regular-season title despite three losses in its last four games. They advanced to the NCAA tournament, making it to the Final Four. Overall, Auburn has appeared in the NCAA tournament 14 times and has produced 35 NBA draft picks, including 10 first-round selections.
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Frequently asked questions
As of March 13, 2023, Auburn earned its fourth NCAA Tournament berth and will face eighth-seeded Iowa in the opening round of the tournament.
Auburn has appeared in the basketball tournament 14 times, making it as far as the Final Four in 2019 and 2025.
Bruce Pearl is the current coach of Auburn's basketball team.
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball program began in 1906.
