Bruce Pearl Gets Real About Auburn’s No. 1 Seed: “I’ve Always Been More of a 12-Seed Guy”
Bruce Pearl’s Ambitious Vision: Auburn’s No. 1 Overall Seed Sparks National Championship Aspirations
For the first time in his 21-year coaching career, Bruce Pearl isn’t just participating in March Madness—he’s leading the No. 1 overall seed in the South Region. With Auburn sitting atop the bracket, Pearl is embracing championship-level expectations like never before.
A Historic Milestone for Pearl and Auburn
While Pearl has taken two-thirds of his teams to the NCAA Tournament, this is his first time securing the tournament’s top spot. Responding to the selection on Sunday, Pearl credited Auburn’s tough schedule for earning their dominant position.
“Yeah, well, give Mike Burgomaster credit for setting up such an ambitious schedule,” Pearl remarked. “How he figured out that we could face Houston and Duke—well, we can’t really give credit for Duke, that was the ACC-SEC matchup. And, of course, can’t give credit for Florida because they’re in our league.”
Auburn’s Hard-Fought Journey to the Top
Auburn’s 28-5 record wasn’t just about winning—it was about defeating top-tier competition. The Tigers went up against all three other No. 1 seeds, two No. 2 seeds, two No. 3 seeds, and two No. 4 seeds. They also faced 10 other tournament teams, including powerhouses like Houston, Purdue, Iowa State, North Carolina, and Memphis.
The SEC’s historic presence in the tournament helped secure Auburn’s No. 1 spot, with 14 conference teams earning a bid. Auburn led the pack, finishing 16-4 in SEC play and boasting an impressive 16-5 record in Quad 1 games.
Pearl recognized the impact this tough competition had on their season:
“It allows us to say that our goal is to win the national championship,” Pearl said. “It allows us to say that, if we don’t win the national championship, we’ll be disappointed as a No. 1 seed.”
Looking Ahead to San Antonio
Despite Auburn’s impressive resume, Pearl knows the road ahead won’t be easy. He pointed out that teams like Florida are peaking at the right time.
“Right now, to me, Florida looks like they’re playing the best basketball of anybody in the country,” Pearl said.
However, Pearl isn’t shying away from his highest postseason expectations yet. While he’s been a No. 2 seed four times, this is uncharted territory for him.
“Listen, we’re going to take it one game at a time,” Pearl said. “But, obviously, these would be the highest goals I’ve ever had heading into the NCAA Tournament because I’ve never been—I’m more of a 12-seed guy in my whole career than I am a 1-seed.”
Now, with Auburn leading the pack, Pearl is determined to make history in San Antonio.
Leave a Reply