Tennessee Favored Over Auburn in SEC Tournament Matchup

The Volunteers look to advance to the quarterfinals with a win over the Tigers.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:50am

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Tennessee Basketball opens as a solid favorite against Auburn for their SEC Tournament second-round matchup on Thursday afternoon. The Volunteers previously defeated the Tigers 77-69 in January, and Tennessee freshman Nate Ament scored 22 points in that win. Auburn is considered a bubble team for the NCAA Tournament, and a win over Tennessee could help their chances of making the Big Dance.

Why it matters

This game is crucial for both teams' postseason aspirations. Tennessee is currently projected as a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament, while Auburn is on the bubble and needs a statement win to solidify their spot. The winner will advance to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, putting them one step closer to an automatic bid.

The details

Tennessee is a point favorite over Auburn heading into Thursday's game in Bridgestone Arena. In the teams' previous matchup, Tennessee freshman Nate Ament scored 22 points in the Volunteers' 77-69 win over the Tigers. Auburn advanced to the second round with a 77-61 win over Mississippi State on Wednesday, overcoming a halftime deficit with a strong second half.

  • Tennessee and Auburn previously met on Jan. 31 in Knoxville.
  • Auburn advanced to the second round with a win over Mississippi State on Wednesday.
  • Thursday's game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET from Bridgestone Arena.

The players

Nate Ament

A Tennessee freshman who scored 22 points in the Volunteers' previous win over Auburn.

Keyshawn Hall

An Auburn guard who scored 21 points in the Tigers' loss to Tennessee in January.

Rick Barnes

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers.

Steven Pearl

The head coach of the Auburn Tigers.

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What they’re saying

“Well, one, we have a lot of respect for Auburn. We watch them, and we told our team how good a team they were. They've been as hot as any team in the country. They're going to win a lot of games. And we knew we had to be ready to play, and we came out, and I thought we were locked in, I do. I think we were really locked in, but we also know how explosive they can be.”

— Rick Barnes, Head Coach, Tennessee Volunteers

“I'm going to ask you one more time. Get in your cars, do what you've got to do, and just get here. Our guys, obviously, play for the Auburn family. They recognize how special it is, how supported they are. Obviously, tomorrow's got a lot at stake. Any Auburn fans we can get in this building, we'll need 'em. We need 'em.”

— Steven Pearl, Head Coach, Auburn Tigers

What’s next

The winner of the Tennessee-Auburn matchup will face Vanderbilt, the 4-seed in the SEC Tournament, in the quarterfinals on Friday afternoon.

The takeaway

This SEC Tournament second-round game is a crucial one for both teams' postseason aspirations. Tennessee is looking to solidify its NCAA Tournament seeding, while Auburn is fighting to stay on the bubble and earn a spot in the Big Dance. The winner will advance one step closer to an automatic bid.