No. 16 Alabama stands in way of Auburn's late NCAA push

Auburn looks to nab a big win and ignite a late-season charge against rival Alabama

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Auburn's NCAA Tournament hopes are dwindling due to a recent stretch of seven setbacks in eight games, but the Tigers have a real opportunity to nab a big win and perhaps ignite a late-season charge when they visit No. 16 Alabama on Saturday night. Auburn is right on the cusp of a soft tournament bubble, and first-year coach Steven Pearl is hoping his team can find the belief to make the tournament despite the difficulties and struggles.

Why it matters

This matchup between in-state rivals Auburn and Alabama is crucial for both teams' NCAA Tournament aspirations. Auburn is fighting to stay on the bubble, while Alabama is looking to solidify its position as a ranked team. The outcome of this game could have major implications for both teams' postseason hopes.

The details

Auburn is coming off an 88-74 home victory over LSU, led by a strong performance from star guard Tahaad Pettiford, who scored 27 points. Pettiford has averaged 25.5 points over the past two games after struggling in previous outings. Keyshawn Hall leads Auburn with a 20.6 scoring average and is tied for the team rebounding lead. In the first meeting between the teams, Pettiford had 25 points and seven assists, while Hall added 24 points, but Alabama prevailed 96-92. The Crimson Tide had their season-best eight-game winning streak snapped in a 98-88 loss to Georgia, with guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. leading the way with 19 points. Alabama's leading rebounder, Amari Allen, has struggled in recent games, and coach Nate Oats wants to see him get "locked in" again.

  • The teams first met on February 7, with Alabama defeating Auburn 96-92.
  • This rematch is scheduled for Saturday night, March 7, 2026, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The players

Tahaad Pettiford

A sophomore guard for Auburn who is second on the team in scoring (15.1 points per game) and 3-pointers (56), while averaging a team-high 3.6 assists.

Keyshawn Hall

The leading scorer for Auburn, averaging 20.6 points per game, and tied for the team rebounding lead with 6.9 rebounds per game.

Labaron Philon Jr.

A guard for Alabama who scored 25 points and had six assists in the first meeting against Auburn, and ranks second in the SEC with a 21.5 scoring average.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr.

A guard for Alabama who scored 19 points in the loss to Georgia and is averaging 19 points over the past four games, while shooting 50% from 3-point range over the past three contests.

Amari Allen

A freshman forward for Alabama who is the team's leading rebounder, but has struggled in recent games, with coach Nate Oats wanting to see him get "locked in" again.

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What they’re saying

“At the end of the day, through all the difficulty and all the struggles, we're still in position to make the tournament, and we just got to try and find a way to have that belief.”

— Steven Pearl, First-year coach, Auburn (statenews.net)

“Trying to get some more wins. Take us to the promised land.”

— Tahaad Pettiford (statenews.net)

“Our rebounding has been killing us lately. For our leading rebounder to have five and then two people with four of them, it's going to be hard to win games.”

— Nate Oats, Head coach, Alabama (statenews.net)

“Look, I use this term all the time. When you're locked in, you're locked in. And when you're locked in, you're getting rebounds, you're making defensive plays, you're attacking the floor on offense. You step to the line, you make your free throws. And he's gotta get back locked in.”

— Nate Oats, Head coach, Alabama (statenews.net)

What’s next

The outcome of this game will have a major impact on both teams' NCAA Tournament hopes. If Auburn can pull off the upset, it would significantly boost their chances of making the tournament, while a win for Alabama would solidify their position as a ranked team. The teams will meet again on March 7, 2026 in Tuscaloosa.

The takeaway

This rivalry matchup between Auburn and Alabama is a crucial game for both teams' postseason aspirations. Auburn is fighting to stay on the NCAA Tournament bubble, while Alabama is looking to maintain its ranking and tournament positioning. The outcome of this game could have major implications for the teams' March Madness hopes.