Just In: The Promotional Push Surrounding the Auburn Tigers Men’s Basketball is unlikely to Improve their Chances of making the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Despite growing efforts to promote their case, the Auburn Tigers men’s basketball may still fall short of earning a spot in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. As Selection Sunday approaches, the team’s chances appear to be slipping, even though supporters continue pushing the narrative that they deserve inclusion.

Recently, Auburn’s official men’s basketball social media accounts have emphasized the difficulty of the team’s schedule, highlighting non-conference matchups against strong programs such as Houston Cougars men’s basketball, Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball, Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball, and Purdue Boilermakers men’s basketball. While scheduling these tough opponents shows the team’s willingness to compete against elite programs, the Tigers failed to win any of those games, finishing 0–4 in those matchups.

Another statistic the program has promoted is its strong offensive ranking, sitting 14th nationally according to KenPom. However, what is less emphasized is the team’s defensive ranking, which is much lower around 110th highlighting a significant imbalance in performance.

In their latest promotional push, Auburn compared its non-conference schedule with other teams considered to be on the tournament bubble, including Texas Longhorns men’s basketball, Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball, Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball, Missouri Tigers men’s basketball, New Mexico Lobos men’s basketball, and San Diego State Aztecs men’s basketball, among others. While the graphic makes Auburn’s schedule appear impressive, it doesn’t fully address the team’s overall results.

If Auburn were to receive a tournament bid, it would be highly unusual. A team with 16 losses rarely reaches the NCAA Tournament without winning its conference tournament. Additionally, Auburn struggled late in the season, falling from a likely tournament team to one that now appears more suited for the National Invitation Tournament.

Even with continued promotion from supporters including comments from former head coach Bruce Pearl many observers believe Auburn’s résumé may not be strong enough to hear its name called when the tournament field is announced.