Auburn basketball fans are in an uproar after once again being snubbed for the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 Poll, despite the Tigers playing like the best team in the nation. Bruce Pearl’s squad has been unstoppable this season, with only a narrow loss to Duke at Cameron Indoor—where controversial officiating left fans fuming—standing between them and a perfect record.
Yet, despite sitting at the top of multiple key rankings, including KenPom, ESPN BPI, and NET, the Tigers remain stuck at No. 2 behind undefeated Tennessee. The Volunteers have yet to face a top-25 opponent, and their recent victory against unranked Illinois hardly helped their case.
Auburn’s most recent performance—an overwhelming 38-point win over Ohio State, spearheaded by another stellar Johni Broome outing—only fueled the frustration of fans, who believe the AP voting committee is overlooking the Tigers’ undeniable dominance.
Fans are speaking out, with many questioning the fairness of the rankings system. One fan expressed disbelief at the notion that a team can’t rise to No. 1 without losing, while others pointed out that Auburn’s metrics, eye test, and overall performance should be enough to claim the top spot.
As Auburn looks to prove the doubters wrong in upcoming matchups against Georgia State and No. 16 Purdue, the question remains: will the Tigers finally get the respect they deserve, or will they continue to be overlooked?
