Following a tough loss in the Final Four against Virginia in the last moments in Minneapolis, the Auburn Tigers returned to a warm reception at the Auburn Arena on Sunday.
Making their first appearance in the Final Four in school history, the team finished the season with a remarkable 30 wins, making 2019 a memorable year for them. Fans, both watching from screens and in the stadium, gathered on Sunday to show their support for their beloved team in a celebratory welcome.
Coach Bruce Pearl expressed his gratitude to the fans, saying, “It’s a great feeling to achieve so much and leave a lasting impression. This year, our team’s focus was on ‘unfinished business,’ unlike last year’s SEC season championship win. This goal required dedication and teamwork, which we worked tirelessly on during the offseason. The entire team understood the importance of supporting each other to achieve our goal of reaching the postseason and making a strong run.”
Bruce also bid farewell to three seniors – forwards Horace Spencer and Malik Dunbar, along with guard Bryce Brown, who delivered an outstanding performance throughout his career.
Bryce set a new SEC single-season record with 141 three-point field goals this season, surpassing Marshall Henderson’s previous record of 138 set in 2013. With a total of 382 threes in his career, Brown holds the second position in SEC history, following Chris Lofton of Tennessee. He also secured the 8th spot on Auburn’s all-time scoring chart with 1673 points, ranking 7th for most points in a single season with 637.
Auburn’s reputation as one of the NCAA’s most prolific 3-point shooting teams is largely attributed to Brown’s impressive performance. The team finished the season with 454 three-pointers, the second-highest in DI history, trailing Villanova’s record of 464 in the previous season.
Bryce’s backcourt partner, Jared Harper, contributed 11 points in the game, bringing his total to 1427 points over his first three seasons. His achievement ranks him 6th for most points before the end of a player’s junior season in the program’s history. Additionally, his 613 points this season place him 12th for most points in a single season in program history, marking the first time a pair of players have scored 600 points in the same season.
Despite the season coming to a close, the team views their performance as a stepping stone towards establishing Auburn Basketball as a leading program in the country.
Looking ahead, Coach Pearl stated, “I’ll take a brief break, but then I will return to regroup, rebuild, and work towards adding another banner to the rafters.”
