Jay Bilas: 'People are overreacting' to Auburn's string of losses before NCAA Tournament

Auburn started its year by winning 27 of its first 29 games during the regular season. The Tigers have since lost three of their last four including splitting their two games at the SEC Tournament last week.

Still, Auburn enters March Madness as the tournament’s top overall seed and have the body of work to show for that designation. However, ESPN’s Jay Bilas believes fans on social media have reacted disproportionately to the recent string of losses.

“I think Auburn, even though they’ve lost three out of four, people are overreacting to that,” Bilas told Paul Finebaum during an appearance on his show Monday afternoon. “Auburn lost the first of those three to Texas A&M in College Station two days after they wrapped up the regular season title at Rupp Arena.

“There was a probably a hangover, figuratively and a hangover, maybe even literally, when they played that game, and then they lose Alabama at home in overtime on a Mark Sears [buzzer beater in overtime]. Then, they lose in the SEC Tournament against Tennessee. Those are big time losses they suffered, so I’m not particularly concerned about that.”

The loss to Alabama came in overtime, but the loss on the road to Texas A&M saw the Aggies never trail. They ultimately defeated Auburn 83-72 in front of the Aggies’ home crowd. The Tennessee semifinal game was a different story, with the Tigers leading at halftime but eventually trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half.

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl revealed why he’s not choosing to be alarmed after his team’s late-season skid. To him, his group lost to three top-notch NCAA Tournament teams.

“We lost to Alabama, Tennessee and at Texas A&M. Yeah, we’re panicked,” Pearl said jokingly after the SEC Tournament semifinal loss. “We lost to some great teams. We lost at the buzzer against Alabama. We had possessions here. Yeah, we’re panicked. I can hardly wait till next weekend to start playing again. Let’s get to Sunday, find out where we’re going, find out who we’re playing and let’s get back to work. I’m looking forward, not back.”

Despite being the top overall seed in the tournament, Auburn still doesn’t know its opponent at this moment. Although, the Tigers have a good idea. They will play the winner of No. 16 seed St. Francis (PA) and No. 16 seed Alabama State in the First Four. Whoever emerges victorious will battle Auburn inside Rupp Arena in the first round on Thursday.