Auburn Basketball: How Tigers reached the 2019 Final Four

By Dakota Cox | Apr 2, 2019

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 17: Bryce Brown #2 of the Auburn Tigers and head coach Bruce Pearl celebrate after the 84-64 win against the Tennessee Volunteers during the final of the SEC Basketball Championships at Bridgestone Arena on March 17, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 23: Bryce Brown #2 of the Auburn Tigers reacts to a play against the Kansas Jayhawks during their game in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Auburn Basketball was an underdog going into the NCAA Tournament, but they have overcome all the odds to make the Final Four. How did it happen?

The Final Four teams in the NCAA Tournament are all a bit surprising. Outside of Michigan State, there is no experience in this Final Four. Out of the four teams, the biggest surprise is definitely the Auburn Tigers.

Bruce Pearl is one of the most experienced coaches that has never made the Final Four. However, that is no longer the case, as he has taken his Auburn Tigers to their first Final Four in the history of the program.

Thanks to Jared Harper and Bryce Brown, this team can score with the best of them. In fact, they are one of few teams in the NCAA to score over 80 points a game. This goes with the fact that they force turnovers with the best of them. Their defense is stellar, and their transition pairs with it really well.

This season started with high expectation due to the returning talent from last season. Their only key player lost from last year was Mustapha Heron, and that’s less than almost every other team in the conference. However, they struggled early in the season. It was hard for them to find their way, but they finally made it work towards the end of the year. They’ve peaked at the right time, and that’s the only possible way they could’ve made the Final Four.

So, what truly is the story of the Auburn Tigers? Allow me to explain.

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