Auburn Takes Dip in KenPom Ratings After Tight Georgia Game
The Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team has long been a prominent contender in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), with high expectations year after year. However, the 2024-2025 season has not been as smooth sailing as many fans anticipated. After a narrow 78-76 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs on January 19, 2025, Auburn saw a noticeable dip in their KenPom ratings, a metric that has become crucial for predicting team performance in college basketball. Despite securing the win, the Tigers’ struggle against a team that they were heavily favored to defeat has raised questions about their ability to contend for a top spot in the SEC and beyond.
The KenPom rankings, developed by Ken Pomeroy, are a highly respected and widely used statistical system in college basketball. The rankings take into account a variety of factors, including offensive and defensive efficiency, tempo, and strength of schedule. Auburn’s slight dip in these ratings after such a narrow victory suggests that the Tigers may be facing some challenges that could affect their chances of competing at the highest level.
In this article, we will take a deep dive into what the KenPom rankings are, how Auburn’s performance against Georgia impacted their standing, and what this might mean for the team’s prospects moving forward in the 2024-2025 season.
The KenPom Rankings: A Crucial Indicator
Before delving into the specifics of Auburn’s dip in the KenPom ratings, it’s important to understand the significance of these rankings. KenPom, short for Ken Pomeroy, is an analytical website that tracks and compiles various statistics in college basketball. KenPom ratings are considered to be one of the most accurate indicators of a team’s strength, as they combine offensive and defensive efficiency with tempo and strength of schedule.
KenPom’s efficiency metrics focus on how efficiently a team scores points (offensive efficiency) and prevents their opponents from scoring (defensive efficiency). These numbers give a more detailed picture of a team’s overall performance than simple win-loss records or traditional statistics. In addition to efficiency, the rankings also consider factors like pace of play, which can influence the overall dynamics of a game. Teams that play at a faster pace are generally expected to score more points, while those that play at a slower pace may rely on more deliberate and methodical offensive strategies.
The KenPom ratings have become an essential part of the college basketball landscape, with coaches, analysts, and fans frequently referring to them when evaluating teams. The rankings play a significant role in NCAA Tournament seeding, as well. In fact, many tournament teams that perform well in the KenPom rankings are often regarded as serious contenders for deep runs in March.
Auburn’s Recent Struggles and the Georgia Game
Heading into the game against Georgia, Auburn was coming off a solid start to the season. With a roster featuring several talented players and a coaching staff that has consistently performed at a high level, the Tigers were expected to be a dominant force in the SEC. However, the game against Georgia exposed several areas of concern for Auburn, as they barely managed to secure a win on the road.
The game itself was a nail-biter from start to finish. Auburn jumped out to an early lead but was unable to pull away from a determined Georgia squad. The Bulldogs, who have shown flashes of promise this season but are not typically considered one of the SEC’s elite teams, fought tooth and nail to keep the game within reach. Georgia’s defense was able to stifle Auburn’s offensive rhythm at times, while their offense kept pace with the Tigers, particularly with standout performances from key players.
Auburn’s offense, which had been one of the more efficient in the country up to this point, was noticeably out of sync against Georgia. The Tigers were able to put up 78 points, but many of their field-goal attempts were contested, and they struggled to score efficiently in the half-court offense. Additionally, Auburn’s defense, which has been one of the stronger units in the SEC, was unable to completely shut down Georgia’s shooters. The Bulldogs shot a respectable 47% from the field, and although Auburn managed to secure the win, it was clear that they had not played up to their potential.
The tight nature of the game, especially considering Georgia’s relative position in the SEC standings, led to a sharp decline in Auburn’s KenPom rankings. While the Tigers’ offense and defense are still strong overall, the lackluster performance against a team they should have easily defeated raised concerns about their ability to compete with other top-tier teams, both within the SEC and nationally.
Auburn’s Drop in KenPom Rankings
As a result of the tight victory over Georgia, Auburn’s KenPom ranking saw a notable dip. Prior to the game, the Tigers had been ranked in the top 10, with high expectations for their chances of earning a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. After the win against Georgia, however, Auburn’s rating dropped several spots, with their overall efficiency metrics being impacted by the lackluster performance on both ends of the floor.
Despite winning the game, Auburn’s offensive efficiency took a hit. They scored 78 points, but their efficiency rating was lower than it had been in previous games. The Tigers shot just 43% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc, which is not characteristic of a team that has traditionally been known for its offensive prowess. Georgia’s defense, while solid, is not typically one of the stronger units in the SEC, and the fact that Auburn struggled to score against them raised some red flags.
On the defensive side of the ball, Auburn was also not at its best. Georgia managed to shoot nearly 50% from the floor and had several key players contribute offensively. While Auburn has one of the best defenses in the SEC, they allowed Georgia to maintain an efficient offensive rhythm throughout the game. This defensive lapse contributed to the drop in Auburn’s KenPom ratings, as their defensive efficiency was one of the key factors that had kept them near the top of the rankings up to this point.
The dip in the KenPom rankings is a reflection of the Tigers’ inability to assert themselves as dominant forces in the game against Georgia. Despite coming away with a win, Auburn’s overall performance suggested that there are still several areas of improvement that the team must address in order to remain a contender for both the SEC title and a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
What This Means for Auburn’s Season Moving Forward
While the drop in KenPom rankings is concerning, it is important to remember that Auburn is still a very talented team with plenty of time to recover and regain its standing. The SEC is one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball, and every team in the league is capable of pulling off an upset on any given night. A close victory on the road is not necessarily an indication that Auburn is a bad team, but rather that they have some areas that need improvement.
Moving forward, Auburn must focus on several key aspects to maintain their standing in the KenPom rankings and improve their chances of success in the SEC and NCAA Tournament:
- Offensive Efficiency: Auburn’s offense has been one of its biggest strengths in recent years, but they must find a way to consistently execute their offensive sets and generate high-quality shot opportunities. Against Georgia, the Tigers struggled with their shooting efficiency, particularly from three-point range. Improving their shot selection and finding ways to generate easy baskets will be crucial.
- Defensive Consistency: Auburn’s defense is one of the best in the country, but they cannot afford to let up against teams like Georgia. The Tigers need to focus on limiting opposing teams’ shooting percentages and maintaining a high level of intensity throughout the game. If they can tighten up their defense, they will be able to better control the tempo of the game and increase their chances of securing blowout wins.
- Depth and Balance: One of the reasons Auburn has been successful in recent years is their depth and ability to play multiple players at a high level. Against Georgia, Auburn’s key players did not perform as well as expected. Players like Johni Broome and Allen Flanigan will need to step up in future games to ensure that the Tigers have the depth and balance needed to compete with top-tier teams.
- Finishing Strong: Auburn needs to develop the ability to close out tight games with poise and execution. While they won against Georgia, the fact that they were in a battle with a team they were favored to beat suggests that they need to find ways to finish strong when games are close.
Conclusion: Auburn’s Path Forward
While Auburn’s dip in KenPom ratings after a tight victory over Georgia is a cause for concern, it is far from the end of their season. The Tigers are still a talented team with a bright future, but they must address the issues exposed in the Georgia game if they want to regain their place among the elite teams in the SEC and the nation.
The road to recovery begins with improving offensive efficiency, tightening up defensively, and ensuring that key players step up when the team needs them most. With the right adjustments, Auburn can quickly return to form and make a strong push for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, the time for improvement is now, as the competition in the SEC is fierce and every game counts toward determining the team’s future.
For Auburn fans, the season is far from over. There’s still plenty of basketball to be played, and with the right adjustments, the Tigers can reassert themselves as one of the top teams in college basketball.
