The Jungle Awaits: Auburn, Alabama Set for a Fierce Iron Bowl of Basketball Showdown
As I sit here watching Auburn take on Old Dominion in baseball, my mind is already locked in on what’s coming Saturday. Neville Arena. Senior Night. The Iron Bowl of Basketball. The regular season is down to its final game, and there’s no better way to close it out than with Auburn and Alabama meeting in front of 9,000 fired-up fans in The Jungle.
Auburn is looking to lock in the No. 1 seed for March Madness, Alabama is trying to stop a late-season slide, and then there’s Aden Holloway.
This isn’t just another game. This is personal.
Auburn and Alabama are set to meet in the regular-season finale in what’s shaping up to be one of the most charged atmospheres in college basketball this year. A top-two NCAA Tournament seed on the line. Aden Holloway returning to Neville Arena—wearing crimson. If you don’t think this one matters, you haven’t been paying attention.
Both teams are coming off losses, but the vibes couldn’t be more different. Auburn, even after falling to Texas A&M, remains a national title contender and the best team in the best conference in America. The Tigers have already secured the SEC regular-season title, and despite back-to-back underwhelming games from Johni Broome, they still control their own destiny when it comes to NCAA Tournament seeding.
Alabama? That’s a different story.
The Crimson Tide, once clinging to the edge of a No. 1 seed conversation, have now dropped four of their last six, and Wednesday’s home loss to Florida was the kind of performance that gets picked apart in March. The defense was nonexistent. The rebounding battle was a disaster. And worst of all, the “Alabama faithful” didn’t even bother to stick around for Senior Night—because nothing says team culture like bailing before the final buzzer... Maybe that guy on X should have held his end of the deal and they wouldn't be dealing with this "Crimson Curse." But that's none of my business.
Meanwhile, Auburn students have been camping outside Neville Arena in tents all week, waiting for a shot to be part of this history. That’s the difference.
The Aden Holloway Factor
There’s no avoiding it—this game carries a personal edge. Aden Holloway was supposed to be Auburn’s point guard of the future, a key piece of a team that could compete for a national championship. Instead, he bolted to Alabama after one season (and losing to Yale), opting for a program that has spent the last month playing like a team that’s already on spring break.
Holloway’s return is the storyline Auburn fans have been waiting for. He’s struggled with consistency all season, but don’t think for a second that matters once the ball tips. Every touch, every shot, every mistake will be met with a wall of noise. The Jungle doesn’t forget, and they certainly don’t forgive.
This isn’t just another SEC game. It’s a trial by fire.
Alabama’s Biggest Problem? Themselves.
Alabama can score. That much is obvious. Mark Sears has been their rock all season, Labaron Philon is emerging as a legitimate offensive threat, and Grant Nelson is good for a few highlight plays per game. But here’s the issue: none of it matters if they can’t get stops.
The loss to Florida wasn’t just about getting beaten on the glass—it was about effort. The Gators took 16 more shots, scored 22 fast-break points, and controlled the game inside from start to finish. That’s not a talent issue, that’s a toughness issue.
Auburn doesn’t have those problems.
The Tigers are built to win games like this. They defend, they rebound, and they don’t take possessions off. This is a team that plays with purpose, one that understands what’s at stake. That’s why Auburn is still viewed as a legitimate title contender, and Alabama is hoping they don’t slide further down the seeding line.
Final Thoughts: Who Wants It More?
Bruce Pearl said it himself—if Auburn wants to win in March, they have to play tougher. What better way to prove it than by sending Alabama back to Tuscaloosa with a loss?
This is about more than just bragging rights. Auburn can finish off the regular season with a statement, reclaim momentum heading into the SEC Tournament, and officially send a message to the rest of the country: the Tigers are built for the long haul.
Alabama, on the other hand, is looking for a spark. They need to prove they can handle adversity, something they’ve failed to do in recent weeks. The question is: do they have the fight to do it in one of the most hostile environments in college basketball?
Because Auburn does. And come Saturday, they’ll remind everyone exactly who runs this state.
Prediction: Auburn 87, Alabama 79
This one is going to be a battle. It’s the Iron Bowl of Basketball, and no matter the records, no matter what happened in the last game, this rivalry always delivers a fight. Auburn comes in looking to bounce back from Texas A&M, while Alabama is trying to avoid a late-season slide after losses to Tennessee and Florida. Both teams have plenty on the line, and that means we’re in for 40 minutes of chaos.