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Bruce Pearl: Auburn was outplayed by tougher Texas A&M team

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra•03/12/22•

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Bruce Pearl and Auburn were on top of the college basketball world a few short months ago. However, things have been rocky for the Tigers recently, and Friday was no different. Auburn was eliminated from the SEC Tournament by virtue of a 67-62 loss to Texas A&M.

Afterwards, Pearl stated Auburn was outplayed by a tougher Texas A&M squad.

“Well, we decided — kind of we put both Walker and Jabari a little bit more on the perimeter and rolled down our guards a little bit and try to play out a four-out, one-in and try to play out of space a little bit,” stated Pearl. “I think the kids are confident in what we’re doing. They just felt like we’re going to start making a few of these shots. And obviously Wendell did and Jabari did. Texas A&M is a really good team.

“Let me ask you a question, guys. You saw two good teams out there today, right? Two really good teams. I think our frontline with Walker and Jabari, pretty good, right? Ran pretty good. Those teams are pretty close in some ways. My team won 15 games out of 18 regular season. Our guys did — our guys did really, really well. They did. Had a hell of a year, because we’re not that much better than the eight seed Texas A&M. We’re better. We are.

“But we played better all year long. I’m really, really proud of them. It was two pretty good teams out there. Texas A&M outplayed us, they were tougher than we were, and they made shots.”

Nevertheless, Texas A&M advanced to the semifinals — where the Aggies face Arkansas on Saturday. As for the Tigers, Auburn is looking for a better performance come NCAA Tournament time.

Stephen A. Smith on Auburn: ‘I have no doubt you’ll recover and make noise in the NCAA Tournament’

Afterwards, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith had a message for Auburn basketball following the Tigers’ 67-62 loss to Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament on Friday. Smith took to Twitter to express his belief in the team heading into the NCAA Tournament.

“Despite the loss today Bruce Pearl, I love your program and I love what you bring to College BBALL,” Smith wrote. “I have no doubt you’ll recover and make noise in the NCAA Tournament. Keep pushing! Keep making it happen for Auburn basketball. See you down the road.”

Auburn looked like a shell of itself in the first half of the game against the Aggies, shooting just 6-for-37 (16.2%) from the field, including 3-for-20 (15%) from three-point territory. The Tigers made just one of their last 16 shots of the half to enter the locker room down 37-21. Thing turned around in the second, but ultimately the hole was dug too deep as A&M advanced to the semifinals on a 67-62 win.

It was a disappointment for the Tigers, who entered as the tournament’s No. 1 seed, but not the end of the world. Auburn still has a chance at a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which is exactly what they were in On3’s Friday bracketology projections. The loss in the SEC Tournament will, at worst, bump them down to a two seed, where they’ll still have every opportunity for a deep run.

Pearl has pioneered the Tigers to its fourth 25-win campaign over the past five seasons this year. He previously led the program to its first-ever Final Four appearance in 2019, but is eyeing something much bigger in 2022. Based on its regular season performance, many, including Stephen A. Smith, believe Auburn to be one of the few teams in contention to cut down the nets in April.