JUSTIN FERGUSON

Auburn's Chad Baker-Mazara (10) and Johni Broome (4) react to play against Tennessee during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
No. 1 seed Auburn has a roster filled with ‘underdog kids’ looking for a turnaround in NCAA play
Auburn has an unusual roster makeup for a team that won the Southeastern Conference’s regular season and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Even in the topsy-turvy, transfer-friendly world of college sports this one is unique.
 
Auburn forward Johni Broome reacts after making a 3-point basket against Missouri during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Broome scores 24 points and No. 2 Auburn opens SEC play with a 84-68 win over Missouri
Johni Broome scored 24 points and had seven rebounds and four blocks, and No. 2 Auburn opened Southeastern Conference play with an 84-68 win over Missouri.
 
Auburn guard Chad Baker-Mazara reacts to a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Monmouth, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
No. 2 Auburn routs Monmouth 87-58 to continue non-conference home win streak
Johni Broome had 14 points and 11 rebounds, Dylan Cardwell had 12 points and 11 rebounds and No. 2 Auburn overcame a slow start to beat Monmouth 87-58.
 
Louisiana Monroe head coach Bryant Vincent looks at his play card during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
Thorne throws for career-high 5TDs and Auburn dismantles UL Monroe 48-14
Cam Coleman caught three of Payton Thorne’s career-best five passing touchdowns, and Auburn defeated Louisiana-Monroe 48-14.
 
Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (9) carries the ball against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
No. 21 Oklahoma rallies late, stuns Auburn for first-ever Southeastern Conference win
Kip Lewis returned an interception 61 yards for the game-winning touchdown, and No. 21 Oklahoma rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Auburn, 27-21 on Saturday for its first-ever Southeastern Conference win.
 
California quarterback Fernando Mendoza, center left, is sacked by Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk, center right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Mendoza throws 2 TDs and Cal proceeds to stun Auburn with a 21-14 win
Fernando Mendoza threw for 233 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and California celebrated the first of several cross-country trips this season by holding onto a 21-14 road win at Auburn.
 
Payton Thorne throws 4 TD passes in first half, Auburn routs Alabama A&M 73-3 in opener
Payton Thorne threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns in the first half, and Auburn opened its season with a 73-3 victory over in-state FCS opponent Alabama A&M.
 
Auburn forward Jaylin Williams (2) goes up for a slam dunk against Mississippi State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
No. 11 Auburn clamps down on defense, beats Mississippi State 78-63
Johni Broome had 17 points, Denver Jones scored 15, and No. 11 Auburn bounced back from a road loss at fourth-ranked Tennessee with a 78-63 win over Mississippi State.
 
Auburn guard Denver Jones (12) is fouled by Vanderbilt forward Ven-Allen Lubin (2) as he goes for the lay up during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Back on home court, No. 16 Auburn ends 2-game skid with 81-54 rout of Vanderbilt
Jaylin Williams scored 21 points, Denver Jones added a season-high 19 and No. 16 Auburn rebounded from back-to-back road losses with a 81-54 win over Vanderbilt. Auburn took control of the game with dominant defense.
 
Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (44) blocks the shot of LSU forward Hunter Dean (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Baker-Mazara comes off bench to score 19, lead No. 16 Auburn to 93-78 win over LSU
Chad Baker-Mazara had 19 points and six steals off the bench and No. 16 Auburn won its ninth straight by double digits, 93-78 over LSU. Auburn had a season-high 16 steals and scored 26 points off of 17 total turnovers from LSU.
 
Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) carries the ball in for a touchdown against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Jaxson Dart has 246 yards of offense and 3 TDs, No. 13 Mississippi beats Auburn 28-21
 
Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford carries the ball in for a touchdown against Massachusetts during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Robby Ashford runs for 3 touchdowns and Hugh Freeze gets win in debut as Auburn’s head coach 59-14
Robby Ashford rushed for three first-half touchdowns as Auburn defeated UMass 59-14 in Hugh Freeze’s debut as the Tigers’ head coach.