While the Clemson Tigers fell to the Cowboys, Auburn had no trouble mauling Alabama—well, the Alabama State Hornets, at least. If it had been the Crimson Tide, things might have looked different. But despite an 83-63 victory, Bruce Pearl wasn’t celebrating. Instead, he was fuming. Sloppy possessions, bricked free throws, and defensive lapses? That won’t fly in March. And with a battle-tested Creighton squad up next, Auburn’s locker room is feeling the pressure.

After thrashing the Hornets by 20 points the Coach for the no 1 seed in the south had some choice words regarding the match in the post-game press conference.“We missed, again, we missed 14 free throws. We made 18, and that’s going to catch us in a close game,” Pearl said in the postgame press conference. “These next games got a chance to be closer, so we got to sharpen up in that area.”

Auburn shot a dismal 56.3% (18-32) from the free throw line, barely edging out Alabama State’s 57.9% (11-19). Against a weaker opponent, it didn’t matter. But Pearl knows that in March, every possession counts. “Did we value every possession on the defensive end? Did we value it on the offensive end, scoring through contact, or did we just rely on the whistle?”

Pearl’s frustration didn’t end there. Auburn turned the ball over 12 times, gifting Alabama State 14 points off those mistakes. The Tigers also relied on inefficient perimeter shooting, jacking up 35 threes and making just 31.4%. That’s the kind of shot selection that can sink a team when the pressure ratchets up. “You can do that against a team that you’re better than, but we won’t be able to do that from this point forward,” Pearl warned.

And he’s right. Creighton isn’t Alabama State. “Creighton is still a very veteran team that they’ve been through it. They’re not going to beat themselves,” Pearl said. The Bluejays are battle-tested, making their 5-consecutive tourney appearance. If Auburn repeats its first-round mistakes—missed free throws, wasted possessions, and erratic shooting—there won’t be a third round to worry about.

The Tigers dominated the boards, out-rebounding Alabama State 46-36, including a crucial 14 offensive rebounds. But against a team like Creighton, which thrives on efficient shot selection and ball movement, even that might not be enough. Pearl’s message to his team was clear: fix the flaws now, or risk an early exit.

Bruce Pearl’s Tigers clash with Creighton’s precision

Auburn thrives on relentless rebounding and defensive pressure. They crash the glass hard, pulling down 34.7 rebounds per game (41st nationally) and snagging 7.4 offensive boards. But while Auburn wins with energy, Creighton counters with precision. The Bluejays rank 44th in field goal percentage (47.7%) and 7th in three-point efficiency (34.2%). If Auburn doesn’t lock down the perimeter, Creighton’s sharpshooters could light them up from deep.

Defensively, Auburn has one of the best rim protectors in the country, ranking 2nd in blocks per game (4.6). But Creighton’s offense isn’t built on reckless drives—it thrives on ball movement and efficient shot selection. The Bluejays rank 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio, meaning they don’t beat themselves. Auburn’s challenge? Creating pressure without overcommitting and leaving Creighton’s shooters wide open.

Johni Broome vs. Ryan Kalkbrenner will be one matchup to look forward to. Auburn’s dominant big man goes head-to-head with Creighton’s elite shot-blocker. Broome has been a force in the paint, but Kalkbrenner’s rim protection and efficient scoring will test him.

Auburn has the firepower to dominate, but Creighton has the discipline to exploit weaknesses. The question is: will the Tigers clean up their mistakes in time, or will the Bluejays pick them apart?