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Auburn Tigers Host South Alabama in NIT Opener
Top-seeded Auburn looks to advance in the National Invitation Tournament against in-state rival South Alabama.
Mar. 18, 2026 at 3:21am
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The Auburn Tigers, who narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament, will host the South Alabama Jaguars in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Auburn coach Steven Pearl emphasized that the team is excited for the opportunity to continue playing and competing on a national stage, despite the disappointment of not making the Big Dance. South Alabama, led by Sun Belt Player of the Year Chaze Harris, will be motivated to knock off the in-state SEC opponent.
Why it matters
The NIT offers Auburn a chance to compete for a championship and gain valuable postseason experience, even after falling short of the NCAA Tournament. For South Alabama, this is an opportunity to prove themselves against a high-major program and potentially pull off an upset.
The details
Auburn, the top seed in the NIT, will host South Alabama, a 21-win team from the Sun Belt Conference, on Tuesday night. The Jaguars rely heavily on their zone defense and are led by Chaze Harris, who averages nearly 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Auburn coach Steven Pearl is eager for his team to embrace the chance to continue playing and competing on a national stage.
- The NIT matchup will take place on Tuesday, March 18, 2026 at 9 p.m. CT.
- The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and the Auburn Sports Network.
The players
Steven Pearl
The head coach of the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team.
Chaze Harris
The Sun Belt Player of the Year, who averages 18.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game for South Alabama.
What they’re saying
“We're all here to compete. I'm not going to duck away from an opportunity to prepare and compete and play basketball. I'm not going to take my ball and go home because we didn't make the tournament.”
— Steven Pearl, Head Coach, Auburn Tigers
“They're going to be really excited about this game. Our guys are going to have to get up for it because we're going to have our hands full because they play an interesting style, they have two high-major players on their roster, and our guys have to be ready because they're going to be coming in her with their hair on fire trying to knock us off.”
— Steven Pearl, Head Coach, Auburn Tigers
What’s next
The winner of the Auburn-South Alabama matchup will advance to the next round of the NIT, facing the victor of the game between Vanderbilt and Belmont.
The takeaway
Despite the disappointment of missing the NCAA Tournament, the NIT provides Auburn with an opportunity to continue their season, gain valuable postseason experience, and potentially win a championship. For South Alabama, this is a chance to prove themselves against a high-major opponent and potentially pull off an upset.
