The Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team, ranked No. 1 nationally, continues to dominate under head coach Bruce Pearl, defying expectations and solidifying its case for a coveted No. 1 seed in March Madness. ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s latest projection reaffirms Auburn as the **top overall seed** in the NCAA Tournament field—a position the Tigers have held for over two months. With a critical road win over rival No. 2 Alabama on Saturday, Auburn strengthened its grip on the SEC regular-season title and bolstered an already stellar résumé.
A historic second No. 1 seed is within reach for the program, which last earned the distinction during the 1998-99 season (ending in a Sweet 16 loss to Ohio State). Lunardi’s current top four includes Houston (No. 2), Kentucky (No. 3), and Michigan State (No. 4). Auburn has already notched a win over Houston this season and faces Kentucky on the road in late February. The Tigers’ strong 5-2 record against Lunardi’s projected top 16 seeds—along with three remaining games versus such teams—cements their status as the nation’s top contender..
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