The Southeastern Conference released its preseason media poll on Monday. Auburn, who won the conference tournament last March after finishing third in the season-long standings, has been tabbed at the second best team in the conference.
The Poll, which ranks each SEC team from top to bottom, lists Alabama as the top team in the conference. Tennessee ranks just behind Auburn at the No. 3 spot, followed by Arkansas (4) and Texas A&M (5) to round out the top 5. Not only did the Crimson Tide edge out Bruce Pearl’s Tigers for the top spot in the team ranking, but Alabama star guard Mark Sears was able to claim the preseason Player of the Year accolade over Johni Broome as well.
Auburn’s high ranking in the SEC preseason poll comes shortly after the Tigers were given the No. 3 spot in Ken Pomeroy’s “KenPom Rankings”. Interestingly, Alabama comes in one spot behind Auburn, at No. 4, according to KenPom. Either way, it’s clear Auburn has sky-high expectations coming off a season in which the Tigers won 27 games. With transfer talent infused into what was already a very deep and solid core rotation, Bruce Pearl’s squad will have every opportunity to go deep into March when 2025 rolls around.
The Tigers will hope difficult non-conference schedule, which includes a spot in the Maui Invitational and a trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium for the ACC/SEC Challenge, helps them avenge the demons of an early NCAA Tournament exit last season. Auburn’s season tips off on November 6 against Vermont at Neville Arena.
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