Since our last update, Auburn basketball has had an eventful few weeks, winning the Maui Invitational, suffering a tough road loss at Duke, and bouncing back with a dominant win to remain ranked No. 1 in both KenPom and the NCAA’s NET rankings. Meanwhile, Auburn football secured an epic four-overtime victory against Texas A&M, faced a tough loss to Alabama in the Iron Bowl, signed a top-10 recruiting class, and is preparing for a busy transfer portal season. The Observer has been covering all of it, and the mailbag is packed with questions.
The SEC has proven to be the dominant conference in college basketball, and Auburn has been a significant part of that success. Heading into Wednesday, the SEC boasts a combined record of 128-19, with even the lowest-ranked team, South Carolina, posting a solid 6-3 record. Oklahoma, expected to struggle, remains undefeated after a strong performance at the Battle 4 Atlantis. The SEC is home to three of the only seven remaining undefeated teams in Division I.
The SEC currently holds half of the KenPom Top 10 and has recorded victories over teams like No. 3 Duke, No. 4 Gonzaga, No. 5 Houston, No. 6 Iowa State, and others. For Auburn, 15 of their 18 SEC games are projected to be Quadrant 1 matchups, highlighting the incredible challenge ahead. Bruce Pearl, Auburn’s coach, has emphasized the competitive grind that will define this season, noting that the SEC is currently so strong that 12 teams could make the NCAA Tournament if it started today. He’s reminded his team that they could end up as one of the top 30 teams but still finish 10th in the conference, reflecting the league’s depth.
Auburn fans can take some comfort in the fact that the Tigers have the toughest non-conference schedule in the SEC, with challenging matchups against teams like Ohio State and Purdue still ahead. In contrast, other teams, such as Alabama, have less daunting non-conference schedules. Projections are also optimistic for Auburn, which currently leads the nation in offensive efficiency and boasts a top-25 defense. KenPom and T-Rank have Auburn winning the SEC at 14-4, with a significant advantage for the Tigers in their only matchup with Tennessee, which they’ll host at home.
If a team manages to go 14-4 in the SEC this season, it will be a remarkable accomplishment given the brutal competition. KenPom forecasts that the top half of the SEC will finish with at least a 9-9 record in conference play, making it unlikely for Auburn to fall into the bottom half of the standings. With only one loss—at the hands of Duke—Auburn has already proven itself by beating multiple top-40 teams on the road.
Auburn fans should enjoy each game and take things one step at a time, as this season could be special. The upcoming Ohio State game will be tough, but Auburn is favored to win. As the season progresses, every victory will be important, so it’s best to savor the journey, and don’t forget to enjoy those sausage wreaths!
