The Auburn Tigers captured their first-ever NIT championship on Sunday night, but the reaction among fans has been mixed about how much the victory should really be celebrated. Missing out on the NCAA Tournament will still define Steven Pearl’s inaugural season on the Plains. Even so, the team’s ability to push through adversity including a fractured locker room after KeShawn Murphy abruptly opted out of the NIT shouldn’t be overlooked.
In an article titled “Behold, the biggest stooge in college basketball history,” written in response to Murphy’s decision, AL.com columnist Joseph Goodman argued that the Tigers’ consolation title would still be “worthwhile” if Pearl manages to keep the roster’s core intact.
“It wasn’t the NCAA Tournament, but hopefully the momentum it created carries over into the offseason,” Goodman wrote, adding that Auburn’s success would matter if players like Tahaad Pettiford, Elyjah Freeman, Kevin Overton, Sebastian Williams-Adams, and Blake Muschalek return.
Auburn’s NIT run mattered regardless
Auburn didn’t plow through a lineup of powerhouse opponents in the NIT. Their path included solid but beatable teams South Alabama, Seattle, Nevada, Illinois State, and Tulsa and a well-resourced program like AU should handle those matchups.
Still, after Bruce Pearl spent part of the national March Madness broadcast venting about his son’s team missing the tournament, this postseason run was crucial. It showed that Steven is willing to grind and earn his place. He didn’t ask for the spotlight his father created, but he answered the criticism after Auburn became a punchline for skeptics of big-time nepotism.
Steven gained credibility through the NIT run. If that respect trickles down to the players who fought through the bracket, even better. More importantly, the performance served as a message to transfers and recruits nationwide that Auburn can still compete and deliver results in the post-Bruce era.
This run already had value though just barely, considering Sunday night nearly became a nightmare scenario when Auburn almost squandered a 17-point halftime lead.
But “almost” only matters in horseshoes and hand grenades. Auburn finished the job and weathered the pressure.
And as a bonus, the Tigers may have helped keep the NIT alive for at least another year, giving the tournament real stakes again.
