Coming off its conference championship season in 2023, Auburn enters this year with the expectation to pick up where they left off, and perhaps take a few steps further.

The preseason No. 11-ranked Tigers were one of a nation-leading nine SEC teams ranked in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 Poll.

Auburn was picked to finish second in SEC trailing just Alabama ranking No. 2 in the conference rankings.

Head coach Bruce Pearl is entering his tenth season with the Tigers. They open the season with a matchup against Vermont on Wednesday (7 p.m. CT, SEC Network) at Neville arena. Before games get underway, here’s a look at the best-case scenario and the worst-case scenario for the Tigers in 2024-25.

Best case scenario for Auburn basketball in 2024-25

Auburn repeats as SEC tournament champs and wins national championship.

Last season entering the tournament as title favorites, Auburn collapsed in the first round to Yale in of the many upsets during the NCAA Tournament.

Auburn’s Johni Broome was named an AP preseason All-American on Monday, becoming the first Auburn player to do so since 1999.

Returning after a third team All-American 2023-2024 season averaging 16.2 points per game and 8.4 rebounds, Key players such as Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara and Dylan Cardwell believe the Tigers have the tools to winning it all.

The Tigers added two freshmen and four transfers to this year’s team as Auburn looks to cut down the nets in Nashville and San Antonio for the Final Four.

Worst case scenario for Auburn basketball

The Tigers lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament…Again

Bruce Pearl has not led Auburn basketball past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 2019 when the Tigers advanced to Final Four.

Last season‘s round of 64 defeat was the first time in the Pearl era Auburn was eliminated in the opening round. That was Pearl’s first round of 64 elimination since coaching Tennessee in 2011.

Knowing the disappointment felt from the team and the Auburn faithful, it would be shocking to fans if the Tigers are eliminated in the first round for back-to-back years. However, The NCAA Tournament has a way of surprising teams every year.

Every team has national-championship aspirations all across the country. With the regular season less than a week away, all eyes will be on the Tigers as they’ll be playing arguably the nation’s toughest schedule.

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected] context menu