Tennessee continues to reign atop the Associated Press Top 25 poll, but the debate over who deserves the No. 1 spot is heating up. Last week, the Volunteers received 38 more first-place votes than Auburn, and while the gap might narrow in Monday’s update, Tennessee is expected to maintain its position at the top.
The conversation is far from settled, however. Auburn’s resume is hard to ignore. The Tigers, led by Bruce Pearl, boast an impressive 11-1 record with six Quadrant 1 victories. Their wins over Houston, Iowa State, North Carolina, Memphis, Ohio State, and Purdue have come with an average margin of 18.0 points. By any measure, including advanced metrics, Auburn looks elite. Their net rating of +36.31 at KenPom.com is nearly identical to the +36.43 posted by UConn during its back-to-back national championship runs.
Individually, Auburn’s standout player is Johni Broome, a 6-foot-10 senior who has been dominating on both ends of the court. Broome’s stat line 18.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game underscores his ability to control the game in just 27.4 minutes per contest. Auburn’s balance and dominance make a compelling case for them as the best team in the country.
Yet, Tennessee remains No. 1 for now.
The Volunteers have been perched atop the rankings for 19 consecutive days, and there’s little reason to dethrone them yet. While Auburn’s wins are flashier on paper, Tennessee’s undefeated record adds weight to their case. The Vols have also recorded significant victories, including a 77-62 win over Baylor, a 77-55 road rout of Louisville, and a narrow but impressive 66-64 triumph at Illinois, considered one of the season’s best true road wins.
Crucially, Tennessee’s spotless record sets them apart. Auburn, for all its accolades, has a blemish: an 84-78 loss to Duke. That loss, while not disqualifying, is enough to keep the Tigers in second place for the time being.
Tennessee’s ability to stay on top despite the growing noise around Auburn underscores the subjective nature of these rankings. Metrics favor Auburn in many areas, but the Vols’ consistency and ability to avoid a loss provide a strong argument for their continued supremacy. It’s a classic case of comparing resumes: the Tigers’ strength of schedule versus the Vols’ unblemished record.
This debate, however, is not destined to remain theoretical. On January 25th, Auburn will host Tennessee in what promises to be a showdown for the ages. Neville Arena will be electric, with fans eager to see if the Tigers can knock off the Vols and stake their claim as the nation’s best team. Tickets for the game are already in high demand, with the cheapest on StubHub listed at $333.
Whether Tennessee arrives in Auburn with their undefeated record intact remains to be seen. The road ahead is challenging, and maintaining a perfect record in college basketball is a feat few teams achieve. Still, the clash at Neville Arena looms as a definitive moment, one that could resolve this heated debate.
For now, Tennessee holds the crown, but Auburn continues to make its case with each passing week. The Vols’ spot atop the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily rankings is secure for another week, but the Tigers’ relentless pursuit ensures that the margin for error is razor-thin.
No matter how the rankings shake out in the coming weeks, college basketball fans are in for a treat when these two programs collide. Both Tennessee and Auburn are proving they belong in the conversation for the best team in the nation, and their January matchup will give one of them the chance to silence the doubters.
