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After thrashing Tennessee 84-64 to win the SEC Tournament Championship today, Auburn didn’t have to wait long to find out where they’d be heading later this week to begin the NCAA Tournament.
Although, it seems like the Tigers’ dominating win didn’t matter at all.
For the second straight year, WE'RE DANCING!
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) March 17, 2019
The Tigers are headed to Salt Lake City where they will face New Mexico State on Thursday. #WarEagle x #UnfinishedBusiness pic.twitter.com/8irrJ5Krrk
Auburn earned the 5-seed in the Midwest Region, where they’ll take on 12-seed New Mexico State in the first round game in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Should Auburn get through the Aggies, 4-seed Kansas will likely wait in the second round on Saturday.
No. 1 North Carolina. No. 2 Kentucky.
— ESPN (@espn) March 17, 2019
The Midwest Region is set! pic.twitter.com/rHFnYaUYOX
You would think that Auburn’s 20-point win over a team that many had pegged as a 1-seed today would have made some sort of an impact on the selection committee’s placement, but it wasn’t so. The Tigers will face a brutal region with 1-seed North Carolina, 2-seed Kentucky, 3-seed Houston, and 4-seed Kansas.
We don’t yet have times for the games on Thursday and Saturday, but the good news is that things may not be as scary as they appear until you reach the second weekend of the tournament. New Mexico State won’t be a pushover, and Auburn will have to be ready to avoid becoming a traditional 12-5 upset.
Quick scout on NMSU:
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) March 17, 2019
- 30-win team, but its best wins came against Utah Valley (96 on KenPom)
- Not tall, but effective. No. 8 in OREB%, No. 4 in DREB%, No. 3 in block%
- Deepest team in America: 1st in bench minutes at 49.8%
- 3s are gonna FLY. 20th in 3PA/FGA. Auburn is 8th.
However, if Auburn beats the Aggies, they’ll get a Kansas team that’s been downright average away from Lawrence. The Jayhawks’ eight losses all came away from Allen Fieldhouse, and they lost key players down the stretch to injuries and suspensions.
We’ll have more on New Mexico State later, as well as official tip times and more information on the first round game in Salt Lake City. Auburn’s back in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. Enjoy it — War Eagle!