Will Bruce Pearl’s postseason woes continue even this season? The 2019 Final Four run remains a high point for Auburn’s HC, as his previous four exits have been at the early stage. The Tigers have not advanced past the second round from 2021 to 2024 NCAA tournament. Even last year’s first-round loss to No. 13 Yale as a No. 4 seed is yet to sink in. Their early SEC exit doesn’t provide the fanbase much confidence, but the assistant coach wants the fans to not lose their hope yet.

“All you hear about is 3 of the last 4, but I look back at our last 10. We’re 7-3 in our last 10 games. We have wins over a 2-seed, a 3-seed, two 6-seeds, a 9-seed, and two 10-seeds.” On The Next Round, Steven Pearl joined the show to talk all things about Auburn Basketball. He acknowledged the current form and loss to Tennessee in the SEC. “You’re going have to play those teams in the Sweet 16, the Elite Eight, the Final Four; you got to win those games at some point, you know. So I think our body of work obviously over the last 10, we’re still playing good basketball, you know.”

Bruce Pearl’s son and the assistant with Auburn harped that the team did not lose due to poor performances. The 37-year-old does not doubt his players or their skills and urges the same to the fanbase. “So I still think there’s a lot of reasons for us to be confident, you know. You can’t panic, can’t push the panic button when you lose to three top 13 teams in the country.”

It’s because of their dominant performances that they earned the number one seed for the March Madness. But have lost 3 of 4 at the end of the regular season and SEC Tournament. Concerns are surrounding them as they lost to some of the top teams in the SEC and in the nation. Even Bruce Pearl knows that anything less than a championship is a bust.

“If we don’t win a national championship, we’ll be disappointed, as a No. 1 seed,” said a determined head coach. But their first matchup in the March Madness won’t be easy.

Bruce Pearl and co.’s first opponents are riding a wave of momentum

Alabama State Hornets made history with their first-ever NCAA Tournament win. The Hornets won 70-68 First Four thriller vs. Saint Francis. They entered the SWAC tournament as a No. 5 seed, went on a streak, and punched their ticket to March Madness for the first time since 2011. But it wasn’t a straightforward win.

The game locked at 68 and just 3.4 seconds left, Micah Simpson channeled his inner quarterback and launched a full-court pass to inbound the ball. Four players from both teams jumped for it and it finally settled in the hands of Amarr Knox. With no hesitation, he made the right play and turned it into a game-winning layup with less than a second to go.

So, the two programs Alabama State vs. Auburn are just separated by 55 miles. But Bruce Pearl and co should be considered the favorites as the number one seed. Plus, they won the last time 82-62 when the two sides clashed. So, will it be the same this time around on Thursday at Rupp Arena? Predicting any result in March Madness won’t be a logical choice.