‘We’re excited’: Resilient Auburn shifts focus toward Alabama after midweek loss

For the first time in nearly a month, Auburn mens basketball was on the losing side of the scoreboard.

The Tigers lost on the road to No.

22 Texas A&M Tuesday night, falling 83-72.

It was only the Tigers third loss of the season, and after clinching the SEC regular-season championship last Saturday, it didnt alter Auburns seeding in the SEC Tournament.

It's human nature now.

And it wasn't about a big celebration, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said.

This game did not have implications as far as the conference championship.

If it did, would the guys have put their bodies on the line a little bit more? I hope so.

I hope so.

But we didn't.

And so, we just focus on that.

With only one more regular season game remaining before Auburn begins its attempt to repeat as SEC Tournament champions and avenge its first-round exit from the NCAA Tournament last season, a big one awaits the Tigers back at Neville Arena.

No.

7 Alabama comes to town on Saturday.

After the two teams dueled earlier this season in a matchup that pitted the No.

1 Tigers against the No.

2 Crimson Tide which Auburn won itll be another top-10 matchup the second time around.

We're excited about playing on Saturday, Pearl said.

You'd like to be playing your best basketball heading into the postseason.

Major bragging rights are at stake as the Tigers are looking to complete their first regular season sweep over the Crimson Tide since 2022.

Meanwhile, Alabama is looking to avoid the sweep and spoil Auburns senior day.

But both teams still have plenty to play for when it comes to NCAA Tournament seeding.

Alabama is teetering between being a one seed or two seed in the NCAA Tournament.

A win at No.

1 Auburn would give the Crimson Tide another marquee win to potentially solidify their spot as a one seed.

For Auburn, the Tigers are trying to keep their spot as the top team in the country and earn the No.

1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament come Selection Sunday.

A win over Alabama would likely do that, regardless of what happens in the SEC Tournament.

The No.

1 overall seed has the opportunity to select its preferred first- and second-round site and preferred region in the NCAA Tournament.

If the Tigers do earn the No.

1 overall seed, they could choose to play in the South Region of the bracket, where the first two rounds are played in Lexington, Ky., and the Sweet 16 and Elite are played in Atlanta.

We'd like to try to wrap up the No.

1 seed.

We think the resume is strong enough to get the No.

1 seed overall, which I think is important, Pearl said.

Which means you're the regular season champions.

To beat Alabama, Auburn will have to clean some things up from its loss to Texas A&M.

The Tigers got mauled on the glass, surrendering 24 offensive rebounds to the Aggies and getting outrebounded by 16.

In all three of Auburns losses, the Tigers have given up double digit offensive rebounds, which Pearl believes is the scouting report on how to beat his team.

The scouting reports out.

Its out, Pearl said.

The best way to beat Auburn is to hit them in the mouth.

Ahead of one final regular season game before Marchs postseason begins, Pearl hopes his team can respond in an ideal manner.

I just want to see how we respond.

How do we respond? Pearl said.

If I'm Alabama, I'm watching that tape, and I'm showing my guys, 'Look, all you've got to do is throw them out of the way.' And see what they'll do.

Texas A&M just threw us out of the way.

Fire erupts from structures on the floor while the starting lineups are announced before an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Student fans wave a banner that reads "Fear the Jungle" after lineups introductions before an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chad Baker-Mazara (10) shoots a three-pointer in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Johni Broome (4) dunks in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Johni Broome (4) grabs a rebound in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Miles Kelly (13) celebrates after a three-point shot in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Student fans celebrate after an Ole Miss turnover in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Johni Broome (4) shoots in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chaney Johnson (31) blocks a shot from Ole Miss's Dre Davis (14) in the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Dylan Cardwell (44) celebrates after an Ole Miss turnover in the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chad Baker-Mazara (10) shoots in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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NBA Hall-of-Famer and former Auburn basketball player Charles Barkley flashes a smile as Auburn's Johni Broome (4) spills into the crowd after a play in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chad Baker-Mazara (10) blocks a shot from Ole Miss's Davon Barnes (7) in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Miles Kelly (13) celebrates after a three-pointer in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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The Auburn Superfans dance to YMCA during a timeout in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Johni Broome (4) flies to the rim for a dunk in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chaney Johnson (31) drives to the goal in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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NBA Hall-of-Famer and Auburn basketball alum Charles Barkley takes photos with fans during a timeout in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze takes photos with fans during a timeout in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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NBA Hall-of-Famer and Auburn basketball alum Charles Barkley signs an autograph for a fan during a timeout in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chad Baker-Mazara (10) celebrates after a score in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chaney Johnson (31) dunks over Ole Miss's Malik Dia (0) in the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Tahaad Pettiford (0) shoots in the first half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Dylan Cardwell (44) dunks in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl directs his team from the bench int he second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Johni Broome (4) shoots in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chaney Johnson (31) shoots in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Denver Jones (2) celebrates after an Ole Miss turnover in the second half of an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chaney Johnson (31) reacts after a dunk in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Johni Broome (4) defends a shot from Ole Miss's Davon Barnes (7) in the second half of an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Denver Jones (2) dribbles across midcourt in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Tahaad Pettiford (0) shoots in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Ja'Heim Hudson (8) guards Ole Miss's Mikeal Brown-Jones (1) in the second half of an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chad Baker-Mazara (10) shoots in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Former Auburn basketball coach Sonny Smith raises the N in AUBURN as the celebrity letter holder during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Former Auburn basketball coach Sonny Smith poses for a photo with Aubie during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Dylan Cardwell (44) blocks a shot from Ole Miss's Malik Dia (0) in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Johni Broome (4) shoots as Ole Miss's Mikeal Brown-Jones (1) defends in the second half of an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chad Baker-Mazara (10) drives to the goal in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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A fan dances with Aubie during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Miles Kelly (13) shoots in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Johni Broome (4) defends a shot from Ole Miss's Dre Davis (14) in the second half of an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chad Baker-Mazara (10) celebrates after a three-pointer in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Student fans dance to Swaf Surfin in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Student fans dance to Swag Surfin during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Student fans dance to music during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Jahki Howard (3) shoots a three-pointer in the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's JP Pegues (1) dribbles around Ole Miss's Robert Cowherd (6) in the second half of an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburns Chad Baker-Mazara (10) celebrates in the final minute of an NCAA basketball game between Auburn and Ole Miss at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn's Johni Broome (4) celebrates with Ja'Heim Hudson (8) after the Tigers 106-76 win over Ole Miss in an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl celebrates after the Tigers 106-76 win over Ole Miss in an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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The Auburn team gathers at midcourt after the Tigers 106-76 win over Ole Miss in an NCAA basketball game at Neville Arena in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb.

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