Has there ever been a major conference basketball champion more disrespected than the Auburn Tigers? The selection committee had the winners of the SEC Tournament travel to Salt Lake City, further than any other league champion, to play in a region loaded with blue blood programs. After playing four days in the SEC Tournament the Tigers were given the earliest possible tip off.
Yet in the span of 14 days the Tigers blew out Tennessee, Kansas, and North Carolina and then defeated Kentucky in overtime (without their best player) to win the region and advance to the Final Four.