Auburn basketball NCAA tournament bubble: Bruce Pearl conflict of interest Auburn has been the focus of numerous college basketball discussions in recent weeks. The Tigers, with a record of 17-16, are on the NCAA tournament “bubble” and are hoping to become the first team ever to secure an at-large bid to March Madness despite having more than 15 losses. Their quality wins over teams like Florida and St. John’s have made this possibility seem plausible, but many bracketologists currently predict the Tigers will miss the cut. At the center of these conversations is not head coach Steven Pearl or any of Auburn’s current players, but rather former Auburn head coach and current college basketball analyst Bruce Pearl, Steven’s father. Pearl, who stepped down as Auburn’s head coach on the eve of the 2025-2026 season’s practice, now serves as a commentator and studio analyst for TNT and CBS Sports. His role typically involves providing objective analysis of the sport, yet his family ties to Auburn and his continued financial connection to the university have sparked debate. Pearl remains listed as part of Auburn’s athletic department and is still receiving payments from the university. According to Auburn’s online payroll database, he recently received a $12,500 payment on Feb. 27. His title is “Special Assistant to the Athletic Director,” a position that has raised questions about his impartiality. Despite stepping down as head coach, his financial relationship with Auburn persists, creating a potential conflict of interest as the NCAA tournament selection process approaches. Auburn, which is firmly on the bubble, is expected to be a major topic on Selection Sunday. Pearl will be part of CBS Sports’ Selection Sunday studio team, despite his ongoing financial ties to the university.#cbs_sports #bruce_pearl #tnt #auburn #joe_lunardi
Did Auburn basketball blow its chance at the NCAA tournament? The 2026 SEC basketball tournament saw Auburn’s potential NCAA tournament bid slip away as the Tigers fell to Tennessee in a dramatic second-round matchup. The loss marked a pivotal moment for the program, leaving them with a 17-16 record and a 7-11 SEC mark despite facing one of the toughest schedules in the country. With a win over the Volunteers, Auburn would have secured its place in the tournament, potentially bypassing Dayton in the bracket. Instead, the Tigers’ collapse in the final minutes of the game left them in a precarious position, raising questions about whether their season had already been derailed. The tournament’s chaos began earlier in the day as Miami (OH)’s undefeated streak came to an end in the MAC tournament. The Red Hawks’ 31-game winning streak was broken by UMass, sending shockwaves through the college basketball landscape. While the MAC upset had little direct impact on the SEC, it indirectly affected the tournament’s bubble teams. Auburn, Missouri, and Texas had relied on Miami’s success to bolster their NCAA chances, but the loss left them scrambling. Missouri, which had already lost to Kentucky in the SEC’s second round, now joined Texas as a team that failed to secure its bid. Auburn’s collapse against Tennessee was emblematic of the Tigers’ struggles this season. Up by double digits early in the game, the Tigers allowed a 22-2 run by the Volunteers, which proved insurmountable. The final score of 72-62 underscored the gap in execution, with Auburn’s defense unable to contain Tennessee’s offense. The loss left the Tigers with a slim chance of making the NCAA tournament, as their record and schedule would need to impress the selection committee. Meanwhile, Ole Miss and Oklahoma emerged as standout performers in the tournament.#ole_miss #tennessee #dayton #auburn #sec_basketball_tournament
College Hoops: Bubble Teams in Panic Mode, Todd Golden vs. John Calipari and More With Selection Sunday fast approaching, teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble are scrambling to secure their spots. The final Saturday in February became a pivotal day for teams teetering on the edge of qualification, as every game carried significant weight. The margins for error have narrowed dramatically, and results from this weekend could determine whether some teams make it to the tournament while others are left out. Auburn stands out as the most vulnerable team in the bubble. The Tigers, who entered the season with one of the toughest schedules in the country, have struggled to translate their difficult slate into wins. A 85-79 loss to 12-17 Ole Miss at home dropped them to 15-14 overall, putting them in serious danger of missing the tournament after a Final Four appearance last year. Despite strong metrics like KenPom suggesting they should be in, their record has not been good enough to guarantee a bid. Auburn still has a chance to salvage their season with games against LSU and Alabama in the final week, but the window is closing rapidly. The weekend’s action saw several teams solidify their tournament chances. Missouri, after defeating Mississippi State 88-64 on the road, is now above .500 against the top two quadrants. Their strong performances against Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee, combined with a lack of bad losses, have positioned them as a lock for the tournament. Similarly, Texas secured a crucial road win over Texas A&M, though they face a challenging final week. In the Mountain West, San Diego State and New Mexico delivered a thrilling showdown in Albuquerque. The Lobos edged the Aztecs 81-76 in a game marked by high intensity, with Luke Haupt’s clutch 3-pointer sealing the victory.#texas #ole_miss #missouri #auburn #san_diego_state
