Here we are, folks, staring down the barrel of another Iron Bowl hoops showdown, this time in Auburn, Alabama, on March 8, 2025. The #7 ranked Crimson Tide rolls into Neville Arena at 1:30 p.m. CT to face off against the #1 ranked Auburn Tigers in what’s shaping up to be a pivotal SEC clash. Alabama, under Coach Nate Oats, has been a scoring machine this season, averaging a blistering 91.1 points per game.
Mark Sears, the Tide’s senior guard, is the engine behind that offense, dropping 19.5 points per contest while hitting 35.3% from deep. Sears is coming off a 30-point explosion in Bama’s excruciating loss last week at #5 Tennessee, but the Tide’s fast-paced, three-point-heavy attack—nearly half their shots come from beyond the arc—can leave them vulnerable if the shots aren’t falling and the long rebounds aren’t grabbed.
On the flip side, Auburn’s no slouch either, riding the wave of a suffocating defense and a balanced attack led by Johni Broome. The senior forward is a double-double machine, posting 19 points and 14 rebounds in their last meeting against Alabama on February 15—a 94-85 Tigers win. Bruce Pearl’s squad thrives on physicality, turning games into slugfests where opponents struggle to find rhythm. Broome’s versatility, paired with guards like Denver Jones (16 points in that earlier matchup) and Tahaad Pettiford (13 points off the bench), gives Auburn multiple weapons. Yet, their reliance on Broome can be a double-edged sword—if he’s off or in foul trouble, the Tigers’ depth gets tested quick.
Alabama’s got more than just Sears in their arsenal. Grant Nelson, the 6’11” forward, brings 11.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per night, giving the Tide an inside-out threat that’s tough to game-plan against. However, Nelson has struggled getting the ball in the hoop in recent games and is averaging just 7.8 points in the seven games since February 8. For Alabama to compete against Auburn, it needs Nelson to break out of his funk. Alabama’s transition game is lethal, and when they’re clicking, they’ve hit the century mark eight times this season. But turnovers haunt this team—over 13 per game—and against an Auburn defense that feasts on mistakes, that could spell trouble. The Tide’s 5-for-26 three-point shooting in the last Auburn loss wasn’t an anomaly; it’s a reminder that their offense lives and dies by the long ball.
Auburn counters with a roster that’s built to grind you down. Chad Baker-Mazara, averaging double figures, brings energy off the bench, while Miles Kelly’s outside shooting (15 points vs. Alabama last time) stretches defenses thin. The Tigers’ 14 quad-one wins this season—six more than anyone else—show they don’t flinch against top competition. Still, their offense can stall if the three-pointers aren’t dropping; they shot just 32% from deep in the first half of that February win. If Alabama speeds them up and forces rushed shots, Auburn’s rhythm could crumble.
Looking at recent SEC matchups, Alabama’s been a mixed bag but mostly impressive. They’ve won 13 of their last 14, with results like a 103-87 thrashing of Vanderbilt on January 21 and a 90-69 rout of Georgia on February 1. But, the Tide is 6-4 in its last 10 and 2-4 in its last 6 – all vs ranked SEC teams. The Tide’s ability to bounce back—think 102-97 at Kentucky four days later—shows resilience, but Auburn’s home crowd at Neville Arena might rattle them. That February loss in Tuscaloosa, where Bama never led, still stings. Inexplicably, Alabama has been missing on the boards and has missed way too many layups in way too many games this season. These missteps will be a death nail against a deep, aggressive, and disciplined Auburn.
Auburn’s been stout, piling up a 15-2 SEC-leading record including their 94-85 triumph over then #2 Alabama and a convincing 99-81 beatdown of the Tide back on February 7, 2024, from last season’s slate. They’ve got nine victories over ranked foes this year, including that top-two clash in February. But cracks show too—Alabama got them 79-75 on January 24, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, exposing some late-game execution flaws. Pearl’s crew will lean on Neville Arena’s energy today, where they’re 33-29 all-time against Bama at home, but they’ll need to stay disciplined against Oats’ relentless pace.
Historically, Alabama holds the edge in this rivalry, leading 102-69 since 1924. They’ve dominated in Tuscaloosa (53-11), but Auburn’s got the upper hand at home. Over the last 10 games, the series is tied at 5-5. Oats’ squad struggles when teams like Auburn clog the paint (they outscored Bama 44-20 inside last time). If Nelson and Clifford Omoruyi can’t own the glass, it’s a long afternoon.
For Auburn, the key is Broome staying on the floor—he played through an ankle tweak last time and still dominated. Pearl’s 3-3 record when both teams are ranked suggests he knows how to win these big ones, and his two No. 1 vs. No. 2 victories are a feather in his cap. Auburn is an impressive 82-6 at home under Pearl versus top 25 teams. But Alabama’s adaptability is a threat; Sears and company can flip a game with a quick 10-0 run, like they nearly did in February. Auburn’s got to avoid those lapses, or the Tide’s explosive potential could steal this one.
Strengths and weaknesses paint a clear picture here. Alabama’s a juggernaut when the threes are splashing, turnovers are minimized, and the tempo’s high, but they’re shaky when forced into a half-court grind, shots go awry, and they’re coughing up the ball. Auburn’s physical, deep, and battle-tested, yet their offense can bog down if Broome’s neutralized or the perimeter goes cold. Both teams are elite—but this feels like a coin flip decided by who executes late.
Neville Arena’s a tough place to play, and Auburn’s got the scars from past wars to prove they can hang with anyone. Alabama’s got the firepower to escape with a W, but they’ll need to clean up the sloppiness that’s plagued them in big road games and the all-too-frequent cold starts when they get down big. This one’s got all the makings of another classic in a rivalry that’s hitting new heights. Buckle up—it’s gonna be a wild ride at 1:30 p.m. CT.
Game Summary:
Date and Time: March 8, 2025, 1:30 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN
Location: Neville Arena, Auburn, AL
Rankings: Alabama (#7); Auburn (#1)
All-Time Head-to-Head Record: Alabama leads 102-69