Steven Pearl didn’t hold back following Auburn Tigers men’s basketball’s 91-79 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball, calling his team’s performance “entitled” and “selfish” in a blunt postgame address to fans.
The Tigers trailed for nearly the entire game while Oklahoma, a team just 4-11 in SEC play, torched Auburn from the floor, shooting 68% from three-point range and 53% overall — far above their season averages.
“I want to apologize to our fans,” Pearl said. “We were entitled tonight. We were selfish on the defensive end. We had no urgency. That’s unacceptable.”
Offensively, Auburn struggled to find consistency. Only Keyshawn Hall and Kevin Overton reached double figures, scoring 26 points each, while the other three starters combined for just 5-of-19 shooting. Bench players Filip Jovic and Elyjah Freeman outproduced several starters, but beyond Hall and Overton, Auburn’s roster contributed just 27 points.
The loss drops Auburn to 6-9 in the SEC and 15-13 overall, leaving the Tigers with only three regular-season games to climb back into tournament contention. According to prediction market platform Kalshi, Auburn currently has a 39% chance to make the NCAA Tournament.
Pearl’s message was clear: urgency, effort, and accountability must improve immediately if Auburn hopes to salvage its season.