Last season, the Auburn Tigers entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 4 seed, expected to cruise past No. 13-seeded Yale. However, they suffered a stunning first-round upset, one of the tournament’s biggest surprises. Now, Auburn holds the No. 1 overall seed, aiming to turn that position into a national championship run.
On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith, alongside Seth Greenberg, issued a strong warning to Auburn ahead of the tournament. Known for his bold opinions and animated commentary, Smith delivered a blunt message: “Step your (expletive) game up and handle your business, y’all are better than that.” And he has a point.
After last season’s disappointment, Auburn has rebounded impressively to claim the top seed, but with that comes immense pressure and high expectations. However, losing three of their last four games has raised concerns about their momentum and ability to perform under pressure. If their struggles persist, their tournament journey could end sooner than expected, reinforcing doubts about their ability to rise to the occasion.
Head coach Bruce Pearl and his team will be under heavy scrutiny as they enter tournament play on Thursday, facing the winner of the 16-seed play-in game between Alabama State and Saint Francis.