With a 12-point victory over the unranked Auburn Tigers, the No. 16 Alabama Crimson Tide undoubtedly cemented itself as one of the higher-seeded teams in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Meanwhile, the Tigers, who dropped to 16-15 on the regular season, are more likely eying the NIT than a berth in the Big Dance.
Despite the barely-above-par record, Auburn head coach Steven Pearl (yes, the one who got handed the job by his father, Bruce Pearl), was convinced in the postgame press conference that his team deserves a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Steven Pearl's bubble-team arugment is off base at best
"We have the best win in college basketball at Florida. If you look at our quality wins and other teams on the bubble, I don't think those teams get those wins," Pearl said after the loss to Alabama. "I think our resume stands up against anybody's."
Those other bubble watch teams? They include programs like the Texas Longhorns, who are 18-13 overall, or the Texas A&M Aggies, who are 21-10 overall, and had at least an even record against SEC opponents (Auburn went 7-11 in conference play).
Yes, the win over Florida is impressive, but it was more of a one-off victory than a performance that showed who this Auburn squad is, and that certainly isn't a team worthy of a postseason bid.
Steven Pearl after Auburn falls to 16-15:
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 8, 2026
"We have the best win in college basketball at Florida. If you look at our quality wins and other teams on the bubble, I don't think those teams get those wins... I think our resume stands up against anybody's"pic.twitter.com/PqVTEdZKeb
Sure, Auburn could truly shock the world and storm through the SEC Tournament to win the conference championship and punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament, but that's about as unlikely as the sky turning green.
Alabama beat down the Tigers to secure the 96-84 win over its rival, and the Crimson Tide is cruising into the postseason, leaving Pearl and Auburn in the rearview mirror.
Pearl's last chance to secure a spot in the Big Dance is this coming week in the conference tournament, but the odds are heavily against him, and his argument will still be as laughable as him being truly qualified for his job in the first place.
The 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament is scheduled to tip off at 11:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 11, and Auburn will play in that first round. The Tide, who secured the No. 2 spot in the conference, received byes through the first two rounds and won't play until Friday, March 13.