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The Auburn basketball team lost to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament on Thursday. That defeat might just end the Tigers’ season.
The squad entered the postseason on the Big Dance bubble. That bubble might’ve burst in Nashville.
Auburn was on life support in terms of its NCAA Tournament outlook. Margins were slim at 17-15. A win over a strong Tennessee team might’ve gotten them into the field, though.
It initially looked like they’d succeed in that effort to advance to the third round of play. The Tigers led by double digits for a long stretch of the ballgame. Unfortunately, things came crashing down.
The Vols used a 20-0 second half run to turn a 10-point deficit into a 10-point advantage. They’d win, 72-62.
Bruce Pearl crashed out.
Bruce Pearl was NOT HAPPY with someone at today’s SEC tournament game with his son at the helm of the tigers.
“Thats bullsh**”
Who do you think it was? pic.twitter.com/yoF7AtwM5f
— Random SEC (@therandomsec) March 12, 2026
The former coach lost his mind and was seen berating someone from his seat in the stands. Most believe it was an official.
Pearl has been adamant on Auburn’s inclusion in the NCAA Tournament field. At 17-16, it could now be a long shot. There are some things working in the Tigers’ advantage.
They have the strongest strength of schedule in the nation. They also have wins over Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, and St. John’s.
The losses might be too much to overlook, though. They’ll be on edge come Selection Sunday.
Those postseason pursuits have been the focus for first-year coach Steven Pearl, but he’s also had an eye to the future. Recruiting never stops. He will need to upgrade his roster through the transfer portal in the offseason.
One mid-major coach accused him of getting an early start.
Queens accused Auburn basketball of tampering.
Royals coach Grant Leonard left a breadcrumb trail back to the Tigers in an online accusation of potential cheating.
“We had an SEC assistant buy a courtside seat for one of our conference tournament games to ‘get ahead’ of recruiting on of my kids,” he wrote earlier this week.
“Go watch the film, our conference tournament game vs UWG, he’s courtside, plain as day to see.”
He did not name names in that claim. He did, however, leave clues.
Followers quickly turned on the game tape. They identified the alleged tamperer as Auburn assistant Ian Borders.
Despite that identification, there were still questions as to the claim. Leonard might’ve confirmed Borders’ presence on social media while mocking Bruce Pearl.
He was mad at me, I said something about assistants not being focused on the current game 😂😎🤣 https://t.co/Zxgz1xwdHy
— Grant Leonard (@QUCoachGrant) March 13, 2026
Two birds with one stone!
Was the confirmation legit? Leonard later said it was just a joke. There is always some truth to a good jab, though. He’ll leave it for you to decide.
It’s a joke, chill out, it’s called sarcasm
— Grant Leonard (@QUCoachGrant) March 13, 2026
Queens is safely in the NCAA Tournament after winning the A-SUN championship. Auburn is still awaiting its fate. Leonard took a victory lap in what he views as a hefty dose of karma.