When Auburn went to the Final Four 3 years ago, Coach Pearl made it clear before the New Mexico State game that the hardest game to win in that tournament was going to be the first one (and that season was living proof). Today, Auburn looks to begin another NCAA Tournament run and first up, an in-state opponent whose coach has some familiarity with Coach Pearl from BP’s Southern Indiana days.
Auburn (27-5) starts play in Greenville, South Carolina today as they take on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the 2/15 matchup in the Midwest Region. The Gamecocks (21-10) won the Atlantic Sun Regular Season Title and because their conference tournament champion was ineligible for the Big Dance, the Gamecocks were the beneficiaries based on their work during the regular season.