- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Auburn Earns Controversial NCAA Tournament Bid
Despite 16-15 record, Tigers make field of 68 after tough non-conference schedule
Published on Mar. 5, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball team has earned a controversial bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, despite having a 16-15 overall record and 7-11 conference mark. The Tigers were one of the last four teams to make the 68-team field, raising questions about the selection committee's criteria.
Why it matters
Auburn's inclusion in the tournament has sparked debate about the fairness of the selection process, with some arguing that the Tigers' weak conference record should have disqualified them. The decision highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing strength of schedule, conference performance, and other factors in determining the tournament field.
The details
The Tigers' 16-15 record includes a tough non-conference schedule that featured several ranked opponents. However, they struggled in SEC play, losing to both Mississippi State and Ole Miss in the final weeks of the regular season. Despite this, the selection committee opted to include Auburn in the tournament, likely due to their strong non-conference performance and the overall parity in college basketball this season.
- The Tigers will likely lose their regular-season finale at Alabama on Saturday, March 8, 2026, finishing the season 16-15 (7-11 SEC).
- The 2026 NCAA Tournament field was announced on Sunday, March 9, 2026, with Auburn earning one of the last at-large bids.
The players
Auburn Tigers
The men's basketball team from Auburn University, located in Auburn, Alabama.
What’s next
The Tigers will face a tough first-round matchup in the NCAA Tournament, where they will look to prove the selection committee right by advancing deeper into the bracket.
The takeaway
Auburn's inclusion in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, despite their sub-.500 record, highlights the ongoing debate around the selection criteria and the challenges of balancing various factors in determining the field. This decision will likely spark further discussion about the fairness and transparency of the tournament selection process.
