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Bruce Pearl reveals change in Auburn's mindset from last year's SEC Tournament

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko03/09/23nickkosko59
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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Auburn does not want to repeat last year’s SEC Tournament. Head coach Bruce Pearl said the Tigers’ mindset was just right for this year’s go ‘round.

Last year, Auburn fell 67-62 to Texas A&M in the quarterfinals, a one and done performance for the No. 1 seed. The team eventually lost in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.

But Pearl said Auburn will not overlook its opponents, including the No. 10 seeded Arkansas Razorbacks Thursday.

“I think last year, we were one of the best teams in the country,” Pearl said. “So I think maybe that could have been an option. It’s not the same. It’s not the same circumstance. I honestly don’t think that we looked past Texas A&M. They came in playing really well. And to think about Texas A&M, not only did they have to come in and play well, they got to the finals and could have beaten Tennessee … They were really hot. 

“Statistically we had 22 games this year, where the NET said we were supposed to win. We won 19 of those games. The three games we lost were at Georgia, at Vanderbilt and Memphis. You look at Vanderbilt and George’s record at home, Memphis is a pretty good team, and those are the only three times where we didn’t do what the NET said we’re supposed to do. It’s pretty remarkable. We’ve lost plenty of games … But we’ve really not looked past anybody, so why would we start now?”

As far as Arkansas now, Pearl said this game was different from the regular season meeting.

“They weren’t full strength, zone won’t be the answer this time around,” Pearl said.

It’s been a wild season for Pearl and company, but he was able to reflect on the regular season.

“Going to Israel was an unbelievable experience…at the same time, it makes for a really long year,” Pearl said. “Going to Cancun and playing Bradley (No. 1 seed in Missouri Valley), playing Northwestern — they’re really well coached, they finished second in the Big Ten… the wins at home against Arkansas, Mississippi State, Missouri, Tennessee… we’re once again in position to be in position.”

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Auburn and Arkansas clash Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET in the second round of the SEC Tournament.