Surprises are as common in the world of college basketball as buzzer-beaters. The 2024-25 season for Auburn fans has been a roller coaster through which expectations have been completely rewritten after every game. The journey they’ve had so far has left supporters and skeptics both in awe of how far they’ve come under Bruce Pearl. The Tigers, who started the season with some cautiously optimistic talk, have earned themselves a spot in the national spotlight.

Auburn’s season has been nothing if not extraordinary, with a 12-1 record and a No. 2 national ranking. Auburn opened with a brutal non-conference schedule, one that Pearl himself called the “toughest non-conference schedule in the history of Auburn basketball”. However, Auburn’s resilience has been the story despite an uphill battle, making fans and critics alike awestruck.

An array of impressive wins back them up as they start at the top. The Tigers beat Memphis, 90-76, to clinch the Maui Invitational championship. They also won victories against top-ranked teams, such as Houston and Purdue. And interestingly, their only loss was in a hard-fought battle with Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Terrence Oglesby’s admission on Field of 68: After Dark YouTube podcast was candid and revealing. Looking back at Auburn’s stunning rise, he said. “Auburn like we all thought they were gonna be good. I thought they were gonna be good. But I thought the SEC was loaded. And I think I moved him up to six in the preseason in the SEC. Boy was I wrong. holy smokes is that team good? Auburn is by far in a way the biggest winner. With the only loss at Duke at Cameron Indoor. Outside of that huge wins over uh Houston, went over Iowa State, North Carolina, Memphis, Ohio State, Purdue get out of here the only right answer is Auburn and they’ve been awesome.”

Oglesby’s words speak to how Auburn went from preseason underdogs to legitimate contenders. Auburn is emerging as a team to watch and he pointed to their non-conference wins against powerhouse programs like North Carolina and Iowa State. Several factors make Auburn the dominant team this year.

The fact that Johni Broome was averaging a double with 18.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in the paint has been invaluable. Auburn has been a versatile, unpredictable team, thanks to the contributions of players such as Chad Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones as well as Auburn’s defensive efficiency which held opponents to just 33 percent shooting. With their strong foundation in place, the transition to SEC conference play will be a challenging one but also a promising one.

The road ahead for Bruce Pearl and Auburn

Auburn’s start of the SEC season features a high-stakes game against Missouri. Missouri has an 11-2 non-conference record and they present a challenge. Auburn’s opening game is a major test for them as they adjust to playing the rigorous SEC schedule.

The Tigers’ road through the SEC is not going to be an easy one. Tough road games vs. Texas and South Carolina lie ahead, and marquee games with the top-ranked opponents, Tennessee and Alabama, loom. Still, their showing in the Maui Invitational has given them more confidence, showing they can perform when it matters.

It’s all about focusing and Bruce Pearl is aware of this very well. Auburn certainly has what it takes to deal with what lies ahead. A mix of experienced players and promising newcomers. But it’s Pearl’s calling to be “hungry, healthy, and humble” that will be so important as the Tigers try to nail down a spot among college basketball’s best teams.