Bruce Pearl Takes Shot At Kentucky Hoops To Flex Superiority Before Clinching SEC Title
The Auburn basketball team travelled to Lexington over the weekend to face SEC rival Kentucky. They’d leave with an emphatic double-digit victory to clinch the regular season conference championship.
To fire his guys up for the matchup, Bruce Pearl noted the superiority his team’s displayed throughout the year. In doing so, he took an unexpected shot at his opponent.
Pregame video was shown of both the Tigers‘ and Wildcats‘ locker rooms. The scenes couldn’t have been more different.
Mark Pope was cool-headed as he preached execution to his home squad. Pearl, meanwhile, provided a fiery rant for his audience.
Part of the Auburn pep talk included a comparison of the two rivals’ play thus far in the season. The Tigers entered the game at 26-2 and 14-1 in league play. Kentucky was 8-7 in the SEC and in danger of falling to .500 in Pope’s first season.
Bruce Pearl emphasized that fact to instill confidence in his players. He knew the Tigers were the better team. They just had to go out and show it.
And show it, they would. Auburn trailed for just 20 seconds of game time after the Wildcats grabbed a 4-3 lead. They’d use a quick 12-0 run in the first half to blow the game open and never look back.
The Tigers were up 15 at half. The advantage grew to nearly 30 before the game’s conclusion. When the dust settled, the visitors left with a 94-78 win.
That victory secured Auburn’s second regular season title in the last four years. They’ll hold the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament.
Auburn has been the best team in college basketball this season. Bruce Pearl reaffirmed that fact to his team on Saturday. The Tigers proceeded to prove it once again on the court.
SEC champs! Gamecocks clinch share of regular-season title with win over Kentucky
The No. 6 South Carolina women’s basketball team closed out its regular season with a 78-66 win over No. 15 Kentucky on Sunday at Colonial Life Arena. With the win, the Gamecocks improved to 27-3 (15-1 SEC) on the season and clinched at least a share of the SEC regular-season title.
SEC basketball power rankings and standings: Where do the Cats land?
With just a few games left before the SEC Tournament, the standings are tight at the top, and teams fighting for seeding are making their final push. Auburn remains dominant, but Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee continue jockeying for position. Meanwhile, teams like Kentucky and Texas A&M are trending in the wrong direction, making their NCAA Tournament fates murky.
So, who’s rising and who’s falling in the latest SEC power rankings and standings?
SEC power rankings, Kentucky basketball tumbling
1. Auburn (27-2, 15-1) ⬆️
🔹 Last week: Def. Ole Miss (106-76), Def. Kentucky (94-78)
🔹 Auburn clinched the SEC regular-season title in dominant fashion, dismantling both Ole Miss and Kentucky. Miles Kelly’s 30-point explosion at Rupp Arena sealed the deal. Bruce Pearl’s squad looks unstoppable heading into March.
2. Alabama (23-6, 12-4) ⬆️
🔹 Last week: Def. Mississippi State (111-73), Lost to Tennessee (79-76)
🔹 Mark Sears continues to play like an All-American, but Alabama couldn’t complete the comeback against Tennessee. Still, the Tide remain dangerous, with elite offense and perimeter shooting.
3. Tennessee (24-5, 11-5) ⬆️
🔹 Last week: Def. Alabama (79-76), Def. LSU (65-59)
🔹 Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler have elevated this team down the stretch. The Vols are playing their best basketball at the right time, and their win over Alabama showed their defensive grit and late-game execution.
