It is undeniable that Bruce Pearl’s hiring has really turned the tide for Auburn basketball. A program with very limited history and recent success powered their way into the Final Four in 2019 and has had several standout seasons since then. The Tigers actually won the SEC Tournament last season after finishing Top 2 in the conference for the third time during Pearl’s tenure in Auburn.
Auburn’s 27 wins this season were impressive, and it was the fourth time in seven years that they won either the regular season or conference tournament titles. However, their journey at March Madness was stunningly brief, as the Tigers were upset by Yale in the first round. Auburn has had some potent offenses and elite defenses in recent years, but this program has just two postseason wins since that Final Four run.
This team will not wallow in that disappointment and can only have their eyes on the future. A significant portion of last season’s talent is back in Auburn and there’s reason to believe that this team can be just as talented and successful as last year’s unit. Pearl and his staff added a few faces to an already potent returning core and the Tigers should be competitors in a tough SEC.
Ignoring a tough year during the pandemic, Auburn has been in remarkable shape in recent memory and that trend looks to continue, but can this be another one of those truly memorable seasons? We’ll look closely at who the playmakers will be for this team and the exciting games on the schedule ahead. Considering all of those factors, we’ll make a few statements at the end and wonder just how far the Tigers can soar in 2025.