Ten-and-a-half years ago, Auburn basketball was barely a blip on the national radar. Today, the Tigers aren’t just relevant, they’re dominant. A program that once struggled to even sniff the NCAA tournament now sits atop the AP rankings as the undisputed No. 1 team. If they cut down the nets on April 7, it’s a juggernaut, a class above the rest. But seems like it’s still kind of unbelievable for coach Bruce Pearl.

But first let’s take a moment to appreciate what the Tigers have already accomplished. They’ve bulldozed their way through a brutal schedule, posting a 27-3 record against some of the toughest competition in the nation. They took down Kentucky, embarrassed Alabama on their home court, and locked up the SEC regular-season title with room to spare. 

As of now, they’re a full three games ahead of the Crimson Tide, with a clear path to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. So, with that SEC title secured, Bruce Pearl was asked if now was the time to experiment a little, maybe ease up before the postseason. His answer was a resounding NO.

“We got a lot to play for,” Pearl said. “We’re trying to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The possibility of being undefeated on the road this year is incredible. We’ve never beaten Alabama and Kentucky on the road in the same year. It just, no, there’s a lot to play for, got a lot to play for.”

And he’s right! 

Auburn hadn’t won at Rupp Arena since 1988. They hadn’t swept Alabama and Kentucky in a season—until now. Last year, they took down Bama once but lost to UK. But this year, they got  the job done. Credit Pearl for assembling a roster that just fits—on and off the floor. And credit Johni Broome, who has been an absolute force, averaging 18.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.

About the NCAA hopes, for most of the season, it’s been Auburn, Duke, and then everyone else. Even though Duke recently slipped to No. 3 in the rankings, with Alabama climbing to No. 2, the Blue Devils and Tigers have been the two most consistent teams in the nation. The odds reflect that, too. 

Auburn is the current betting favorite to win the national title at +340, with Duke right behind at +350. Houston and Florida round out the top four, but there’s a clear gap between the top two and the rest of the field. Auburn and Duke are practically locks for No. 1 seeds, barring something crazy happening in the next couple of weeks.

But just as everyone was ready to crown Auburn and coach set the record straight, reality checked in. The Tigers ran into a roadblock against No. 22 Texas A&M and, well, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.

Bruce Pearl & Co. face first double-digit loss of the season

The SEC showed why it is the most competitive conference and this time, at Auburn’s expense. The Tigers walked into College Station with all the momentum in the world, but Buzz Williams and his Aggies had other plans. Texas A&M jumped out to a 7-0 lead and never looked back, handing Auburn an 83-72 loss, the Tigers’ worst defeat of the year.

The Aggies had five players in double figures, led by Zhuric Phelps’ 19 points off the bench. Andersson Garcia delivered a monster double-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block. 

Meanwhile, Auburn’s star, Johni Broome, had a rare off night, finishing with just eight points and seven rebounds. Chad Baker-Mazara (15 points) and Tahaad Pettiford (19 points) tried to keep Auburn in the game, but it wasn’t enough. Statistically, the Tigers weren’t that bad. They shot 50% from the field and 40.9% from three. But they got crushed at rebounds and turnovers. Texas A&M dominated the glass, out-rebounding Auburn 41-25, including a 24-9 edge in offensive boards. 

This was Auburn’s first loss to a team outside the top 10 all season, and their first loss by double digits. And now, they have to turn around and face Alabama in their regular-season finale. Oh, and Mark Sears has already thrown down the challenge for some good old-fashioned revenge.

However, in the grand scheme of things, this loss won’t affect Auburn’s NCAA tournament seeding much. But it’s a reminder anyone can get caught slipping in March. The Tigers have spent the entire season building this. So, at this moment, they can’t afford to let it crumble at any cost.