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Auburn Basketball Eyes No. 1 Spot Amid Late-Game Struggles

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Auburn Basketball Bruce Pearl South Carolina Game

Auburn basketball is riding a seven-game winning streak and ranks No. 2 in the AP Poll, positioning itself for the No. 1 spot if it defeats South Carolina on Saturday. However, the Tigers’ recent performances have raised concerns about their ability to close out games decisively.

In three of their last four games, Auburn has held significant second-half leads, only to see opponents mount late runs that narrowed the final margins. Against Texas, the Tigers led by 21 points with 12:28 remaining but allowed a 40-19 run that cut the lead to three in the final 30 seconds. Auburn ultimately secured an 87-82 victory, but the late-game struggles were evident.

Head coach Bruce Pearl acknowledged the issue, stating, “I think that what we’ve done offensively in a couple of those games where we may have relaxed a little bit because of the lead and may have thrown some passes and done some things where we should have just finished basic plays and did not, and then all of a sudden, the margin shrunk.”

Pearl also noted that some of the late runs occurred against Auburn’s bench players, but the Texas game was an exception. “I’d say the late run against Texas was against our starters, that might be a concern,” he said. Despite the challenges, Pearl emphasized the importance of maintaining focus throughout the full 40 minutes of play.

Auburn’s next opponent, South Carolina, may appear weaker on paper, but Pearl is not taking the Gamecocks lightly. He referenced the “slippery rock theory,” pointing out that South Carolina defeated Clemson, which beat Kentucky, which in turn defeated Duke, a team that Auburn lost to earlier in the season. “We’ve got to be ready to go,” Pearl said.

The Tigers’ recent success has been a testament to Pearl’s transformative impact on the program. Since his hiring in 2014, Auburn has risen from obscurity to become a national powerhouse, with achievements including an SEC regular-season championship, an SEC Tournament title, and a trip to the Final Four. Pearl recently became the winningest coach in Auburn basketball history, further solidifying his legacy.

As the Tigers prepare for their matchup against South Carolina, fans and analysts alike are calling for the university to honor Pearl by naming the court at Neville Arena after him. “Bruce Pearl Court at Neville Arena. That has a nice ring to it,” wrote Brian Stultz of AuburnSports. The game tips off at noon on Saturday and will be streamed live on SEC Network.