Auburn could become fourth program to repeat at SEC Tournament

by:Adam Luckett•about 9 hours•

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NCAA Basketball: Auburn at Vanderbilt — Feb 11, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl talks with forward Johni Broome (4) against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The SEC Tournament has long been something that Kentucky has owned. We have seen the Wildcats claim 32 titles in this postseason event. The rest of the conference has claimed 32 titles. Alabama (eight) and Tennessee (five) are the only programs outside of UK to win more than four. This has very much been Kentucky’s tournament.

It’s no surprise that only three programs have repeated in the history of the this event. Auburn could change that this weekend at Bridgestone Arena. Could Bruce Pearl‘s team become the fourth program to become a repeat champion at this event?

School	Repeat Champions
Kentucky	1939-40, 1944-50, 1992-95, 1997-99, 2003-04, 2010-11, 2015-18
Alabama	1989-91
Florida	2005-07

Kentucky has repeated on seven different occasions in this event. Only 1939-40, 2003-04 and 2010-11 included a repeat. The Cats ran off seven titles in a row from 1944-50, won four titles in a row from 1992-95 and 2015-18, and won three titles in a row from 1997-99. Both Alabama and Auburn have complete three-peats at this event but it has been nearly 20 years since a team not named Kentucky has gone back-to-back.

Auburn can change that in the Music City this weekend.

The Tigers won the SEC Tournament in 2024 as the No. 4 seed as a Mississippi State upset win over No. 1 seed Tennessee opened up the bracket. Auburn then knocked off No. 6 seed Florida in the championship after the Gators upset No. 3 seed Alabama on Friday and took down No. 7 seed Texas A&M on Saturday. Auburn also won the SEC title in 2019 under Pearl as the No. 5 seed. No. 8 seed Florida took out No. 1 seed LSU on Friday. Auburn then beat No. 3 seed Tennessee in the title.

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However, the Tigers have not had a lot of luck as the No. 1 seed in this tournament.

In 2018, No. 8 seed Alabama got 31 points from Collin Sexton and rolled to a 81-63 victory in St. Louis. In 2022, No. 8 seed Texas A&M built a 20-point lead in the second half and held on for a big upset victory in Nashville. The Tigers are 0-2 in the SEC Tournament as the No. 1 seed.

The Tigers are looking to join a small list in SEC basketball history this weekend. To do that, they must show that they can win games at the top of the bracket.