NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Illinois rises, Dayton keeps impressing

Auburn returned to its winning ways this week with back-to-back home wins over South Carolina and Iowa State. Considering the relative ease of opponent for the Tigers, these victories were expected by came by a closer margin that one would have hoped. After climbing all the way to No. 15 on KenPom after its 15-0 start, Auburn has now dropped to No. 33 and this fall coincides with a dip on the eye-test as well.

The Tigers have struggled a bit against higher-level competition over the past couple of weeks and they will need to prove that they belong by securing a signature win. While I am still a believer that Auburn is a very good team capable of competing for the SEC title, it needs more top-tier victories. The Tigers’ best win to date came at Mississippi State as it is possible that they are yet to secure a single victory over an NCAA Tournament-caliber opponent.

During the next couple of weeks, though, Auburn will be able to prove that it belongs. After facing Ole Miss on the road in their next game, the Tigers will then play four consecutive potential tournament squads with Kentucky, Arkansas, LSU, and Alabama all in a row. Thankfully, three of those four contests will come at home and that should give the Tigers a bit of an edge.