“There won’t be a return to the NCAA Tournament for Auburn basketball this season, but there’s still games to be played,” a spokesperson noted following the announcement of the team’s NIT bid.
Auburn basketball, which reached its second-ever Final Four the previous year, faced disappointment this season as it did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The team ended the season with an overall record of 17-16 and was the second team out of the NCAA Tournament.
Despite the setback, Auburn accepted an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and will host South Alabama in the first round on March 17, 2026. Auburn is the No. 1 overall seed in the NIT, a testament to its strong performance throughout the season.
Head coach Bruce Pearl reflected on the team’s journey, stating, “That turned out to be a better game than what people thought it was going to be because Ole Miss did so well in the SEC Tournament.” This highlights the competitive nature of the SEC and the challenges faced by Auburn.
Auburn’s strength of schedule ranked No. 3 in the nation, and the team secured impressive victories, including defeating seven NCAA Tournament teams this season. Keith Gill commented, “Auburn, obviously had a really strong strength of schedule. They had some really good wins at Florida, it’s a great win.”
However, the team struggled towards the end of the season, losing seven of its final ten games. This inconsistency ultimately impacted their chances of making the NCAA Tournament.
Historically, this marks Auburn’s seventh appearance in the NIT, with the last being in 2009. The team has a 4-6 overall record in the tournament, and they will look to improve that standing in the upcoming matchup against South Alabama.
Auburn has won five straight games against South Alabama, which could provide a confidence boost as they prepare for the NIT. The team aims to leverage its past successes and strong performances against notable opponents to make a deep run in the tournament.
As the NIT approaches, Auburn fans are eager to see how their team will respond to the challenges ahead. The upcoming game against South Alabama will be crucial for the Tigers as they seek to end their season on a high note.
