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Nashville Tennessee advanced past Auburn in SEC Tournament

PUBLISHED Mar 11, 2026, 11:35 PM ET

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Nashville Tennessee advanced past Auburn in the SEC Tournament second round, moving the No. 5-seed Volunteers into a quarterfinal matchup with Vanderbilt on March 13. Nate Ament returned from an ankle injury and led a late 20-0 run, finishing with 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal. Auburn had defeated Mississippi State in the tournament opener before losing to Tennessee. On March 11, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi projected Tennessee as a No. 5 seed for the NCAA Tournament. SEC Tournament results will inform Selection Sunday on March 15. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Michael Grant | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

March 15, 2025 — Tennessee beat top-seeded Auburn 70-65 in SEC Tournament semifinals.
January 31, 2026 — Tennessee won the regular-season meeting against Auburn, 77-69.
March 11, 2026 — Joe Lunardi projected Tennessee as a No. 5 NCAA seed following games through March 11.
March 12, 2026 — Auburn beat Mississippi State 79-61 in the SEC Tournament opener.
March 13, 2026 — Tennessee defeated Auburn in SEC second round and advanced to face Vanderbilt.

News Intelligence

If you're a Tennessee fan, this win is a big deal. It moves the Volunteers closer to a potential SEC title. Plus, Nate Ament's return from injury and standout performance could be a game-changer for the team's NCAA Tournament run.

Media Bias

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Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 11

Who Benefited

Tennessee's men's basketball program benefited from the second-round SEC Tournament win, strengthening its NCAA tournament seeding prospects, team momentum, and public profile heading into Selection Sunday and subsequent postseason preparations.

Who Impacted

Auburn's NCAA Tournament resume and short-term momentum suffered after the loss, creating greater uncertainty around their at-large status and reducing immediate postseason positioning and public confidence.

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