Auburn’s March Madness ride so far has been a ride of grit and unpredictability. The Tigers looked every bit the No. 1 seed in beating Michigan until they didn’t. Fans were questioning whether they were watching the same team that dominated the SEC. However, it became clear when Denver Jones and Tahaad Pettiford turned a nine-point deficit into a run, turning in Auburn around a 20-2 second half to end the rally. But, despite what appears to be now an easy win. There is some concern regarding Bruce Pearl’s team. Can they sustain the momentum? Dick Vitale has his say.

With his 2025 March Madness final-four bracket, the Vitale has dropped a bombshell. His Final Four has no Tigers, despite their No. 1 seed and SEC dominance. Vitale opts for No. 2 Michigan State (South), No. 1 Florida (West), No. 1 Duke (East), and No. 1 Houston (Midwest) to win, with Duke capturing the championship. So, what is holding Bruce Pearl’s team back in Vitale’s eyes?

Vitale’s doubts aren’t new. The Tigers’ gritty comeback shattered his prediction that No. 5 Michigan would upset Auburn in the Sweet 16. Now, with an Elite Eight showdown with Michigan State ahead, Vitale’s favor sits squarely on the Spartans. The edge is cited as Tom Izzo’s March magic, doubling down on Bruce Pearl’s exclusion from the final stretch.

Dick Vitale’s concerns are valid, as the win against Michigan was not a smooth sailing by any means. Turnovers were an issue for Auburn in the first half, where sloppy ball control put them at 10. Just as shaky in their shooting were their 32.4% from the field and 3-of-16 from beyond the arc.

However, Auburn leaned on its rebounding dominance heavily to seal the victory. Michigan was outrebounded by 15, and the Tigers capitalized with a 21-9 advantage in second-chance points. That hustle got them to the Elite Eight for the third time in program history. But those turnover woes? Bruce Pearl’s squad capitalised those by something else.

Bruce Pearl’s leadership and Player accountability 

While players stepped up, Bruce Pearl’s praise for his team’s “will to win” was evident after the 78-65 triumph. It was that timeout reset, where the players were told to “Forget everything that has happened” and to “Just execute, execute,” which then sparked a 31-8 run powered by stifling defense and fast breaks. It is the type of moment that will be etched into a coach’s legacy.

But Pearl gave credit to the players for the turnaround. “Let me tell you something: Coaches can help teams win games,” Pearl said. “Players win championships. … When those guys talk about getting stops or taking better care of the basketball or quit rushing offensively, it means a lot more than when I say it.” The stars for Auburn’s second-half show were Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones, who both poured in 20 points each. “We went to them and they delivered,” Pearl said. Broome’s 22 points and 16 rebounds—nine of them on the offensive glass—were relied on too. That’s that grit that’s keeping Auburn alive. Auburn will have to rebound against Michigan State’s turnover troubles.

Can Bruce Pearl outfox Izzo? While Vitale’s skepticism adds spice. The Tigers have already shown resilience and are ready to battle, with the goal of rewriting Vitale’s script and joining March’s elite. Can Auburn’s ‘will to win’ overcome their glaring weaknesses and silence Dick Vitale? The Elite Eight showdown promises a clash of grit and skepticism, with the Tigers poised to either rewrite the script or validate the doubts.