SEC basketball is on the horizon, and the Auburn Tigers are looking to earn another regular-season crown under first-year head coach Steven Pearl.
The expectations will be manageable for Pearl as he navigates his first season as head coach with a nearly brand-new roster. The SEC released its “predicted order to finish” for the 2025-26 season on Monday, with the Tigers coming in at No. 6. The defending national champion, Florida Gators, earn the top spot, with Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas all sitting above Auburn.
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Pearl takes over for his father, Bruce, this season following an impressive run that saw the Tigers win 246 games from 2014-25. Steven Pearl will inherit a roster that has just one returning contributor in guard Tahaad Pettiford. Pettiford made one start last season, but averaged 11.6 points and shot 42% from the field in 38 games last season. He is poised to take over the point guard position this season after turning down the NBA draft during the offseason.
Outside of Pettiford, Auburn will break in many transfers, including the Big 12’s leading scorer from last season, Keyshawn Hall. Hall averaged 18.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season at UCF, and is poised to have another great season as an Auburn Tiger for the 2025-26 season.
Other players of note include former Mississippi State forward Keshawn Murphy, JUCO center Emeka Opurum, Serbian forward Filip Jovic, and true freshman guard Kaden Magwood.
The Tigers will face Oklahoma State in the “Battle at Boutwell” scrimmage on Wednesday in Birmingham, and will open the season on Nov. 3 against Bethune-Cookman at Neville Arena.
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SEC Men’s Basketball Predicted Order to Finish 2025-26
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10. Mississippi State
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn basketball: Tigers picked to finish sixth in SEC
