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Coach Pearl Fights for NCAA Tournament Bid
13 Mar
Summary
- Auburn coach argued for his team's NCAA tournament inclusion.
- Tigers lost a crucial SEC Tournament game despite a halftime lead.
- Pearl highlighted the team's strength of schedule and key wins.

Auburn's coach, Steven Pearl, made a strong case on Thursday for his team to secure an NCAA Tournament berth in his inaugural season.
Pearl expressed his belief that the Tigers deserve a spot in the tournament, especially after their recent performance. Despite leading No. 25 Tennessee at halftime in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Auburn suffered a 72-62 loss, their fourth in their last six games.
Pearl defended his team's resume, pointing to the nation's third-toughest schedule, which included games against top teams. Auburn played 17 Quad 1 games, tied for the most nationally. They secured notable wins on the road against defending national champion Florida and at home against Arkansas, among others.
He compared Auburn's record and strength to six other teams on the NCAA bubble, asserting that his team is superior in at least five key metrics. Pearl concluded that Auburn has done enough to warrant selection on Selection Sunday and possesses the capability to win games in the tournament.




