A Season of Struggles and a Remarkable Comeback
Auburn basketball faced a lot of challenges this season, and it’s hard to argue against the criticism they received. From the late departure of head coach Bruce Pearl to a disappointing performance in the SEC and missing the NCAA Tournament, it was a tough year for the Tigers. However, despite the setbacks, the team deserves recognition for winning the NIT on Sunday night and showing resilience throughout the process.
Winning a postseason tournament is no easy task, especially for a power conference team that had high hopes of making it to March Madness. In fact, it’s often easier for teams to give up after their initial NIT game rather than push through and make a run. Auburn nearly did just that, but instead, they found the strength to keep fighting.
Kevin Overton, a key player for the team, reflected on the victory after the Tigers defeated Tulsa 92-86 in overtime. “I think it says a lot,” he said. “I think we all had that moment of doubt in the year. Truthfully, we didn’t really want to play. Like you said, we could have packed it up. But we came together.”
“Once we started playing it became, okay, it’s basketball at the end of the day and we’re still competitors. Let’s go win the game. Obviously, we didn’t want to be where we were, but we are the ones that got in that situation, so let’s just go make the best of it.”
A Journey Through the NIT
Auburn’s path to the NIT championship was anything but easy. They defeated South Alabama, Seattle, Nevada, Illinois State, and Tulsa to claim the title. Against the Golden Hurricane, the Tigers led by as many as 21 points before being outscored by 17 points in the second half. The game came down to a miraculous rally in the final ten seconds, forcing overtime and ultimately leading to the victory.
Steven Pearl, the new head coach, described the game as a microcosm of the team’s season. “Lesser-character young men would have folded it up and, you know, just gotten to the offseason,” he said about his team’s mentality during the tournament. “This group didn’t. They used this as an opportunity to compete. They used this as an opportunity to gain some positive moment going into an offseason, an important offseason for all of us.”
Building Momentum for the Future
While momentum into the offseason might not carry as much weight in college basketball as it once did, due to the constant roster changes from the transfer portal, it can still provide a boost in confidence. For Pearl, who faced questions about his ability to lead the team, the NIT victory was a significant step forward.
“I feel like the guys that we want to have return are obviously in a better place mentally. You know, seeing what it’s capable of looking like,” Pearl said. “I think this run and this decision to play in this tournament, there was a lot of that factored into my decision, and you know, it could have blown up in your face. But to our guys’ credit, to our staff’s credit…They have poured into our guys, loved on our guys and our guys have received that really well.”
Pearl continued, “I think they came out here and they made me proud, they made our staff proud, they made our university proud and I think they showed the nation what this team is built on, and for that, that’s something we can build on moving forward.”
Conclusion
The NIT championship serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Auburn basketball team. Despite a difficult season filled with challenges, the Tigers proved they could come together and fight for a meaningful victory. This experience will undoubtedly help them move forward, both as individuals and as a team, and set a strong foundation for the future.
