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Auburn earns No. 1 overall seed in NCAA Tournament, South Regional awaits

Justin Hokansonby:Justin Hokanson•03/16/25•

_JHokanson

Johni Broome (Photo by matt Rudolph/Auburn Live)
Johni Broome (Photo by matt Rudolph/Auburn Live)

AUBURN — After the greatest regular season in Auburn men’s basketball history, Bruce Pearl and Co. will not be traveling far from home during their quest to make the Final Four in San Antonio.

Auburn (28-5) was awarded the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament by the selection committee on Sunday. The Tigers will play first and second round games in Lexington, Kentucky. If they advance, they will play Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Tigers will play either Alabama State or St. Francis on Thursday, and if they win, either Louisville or Creighton on Saturday.

It’s the second time in program history Auburn has landed a No. 1 seed (1998-99) and the first time the Tigers have landed the No. 1 overall seed. The 98-99 team was also a No. 1 seed in the South Regional.

Auburn will be making its 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and sixth appearance under Pearl.

The Tigers have never lost to a No. 16, No. 8 or No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament. If Auburn wants to make it to Atlanta, that perfect record will need to remain intact.

BRIEF THOUGHTS AND GRADES: AUBURN FALLS TO TENNESSEE IN THE SEC TOURNAMENT SEMIS

Auburn’s list accolades this season is lengthy.

  • Maui Invitational champions
  • SEC regular season champions
  • 28 overall and 15 SEC wins tie single-season program record
  • 16 Quad 1 wins sets new single-season program record and SEC regular season record
  • 10 ranked wins sets new single-season program record
  • Auburn spent 81 days as the NET No. 1
  • One of four current KenPom teams Top 12 in both offensive and defensive efficiency
  • No. 2 Strength of Schedule
  • No. 1 Wins Above Bubble (wins better than what an average team would do against the same schedule)
  • No. 1 WAB out-of-conference
  • No. 1 Strength of Record
  • SEC Coach of the Year (Pearl)
  • SEC Player of the Year and Sporting News NPOY (Johni Broome)

Auburn did all that, playing the second-toughest collection of offenses and second-toughest collection of defenses in all of college basketball. On average, only Alabama faced a better collection of offenses, and only Baylor faced a better collection of defenses on the season.

And the Tigers hopefully aren’t done.

With two more wins, this team will tie the single-season program record for most wins (30) set by the 2018-19 Final Four team. And with one more win, they will tie the 1998-99 team (29 wins).

With two wins, Auburn can advance to their fifth Sweet 16 all time. With three wins, the Tigers can advance to only their third Elite Eight all time. And obviously with four wins, Auburn can advance to only their second Final Four all time.

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