Bodda Getta Brew 3/17: A "Where Were You When" Moment

The Auburn MBB team earned a historic No. 1 overall seed in the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship as the field of 68 was announced on Sunday.

The SEC regular-season champion Tigers (28-5) received one of a league-record 14 bids and will make their 14th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance.

Auburn will face the winner of an NCAA First Four matchup between No. 16 seed Alabama State (19-15) or No. 16 Saint Francis (16-17) on Thursday, March 20, before a potential second-round matchup with No. 8 Louisville (27-7) or No. 9 Creighton (24-10) on Saturday, March 22. Auburn has never met St. Francis out of the Northeast Conference in the 119-year history of the program, while it is 6-0 all-time versus Alabama State out of the SWAC.

What else have we mixed into today’s steaming hot Brew? Check it out below!

🏀 Another day, another accolade for Coach Pearl and Johni Broome
🏆 Men’s Track had successful showing @ NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
🐅 And much, much more!

📹 WAREAGLE+ : SELECTION SHOW

🔼 Tharp Speed Strikes Again. Auburn sophomore Ja’Kobe Tharp won an individual national championship in the 60m hurdles and the Tiger men finished third overall in the team standings at an eventful final day at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday. Senior Makanakaishe Charmaba and sophomore Kayinsola Ajayi took home silver medals in the 200m and 60m dashes, respectively, to help propel the men to their best indoor finish since 2003.

Auburn’s third-place team finish was its second consecutive trophy on the men’s side as it was national runners-up at the 2024 outdoor championships in Eugene. The Tiger men were NCAA indoor runners up in 1978, 1997 and 2003.

🔼 Sunday’s Grand Salami. Cade Belyeu hit a go-ahead grand slam with two strikes and two outs in the eighth inning to lead No. 23 Auburn to a 7-6 win, securing the series against No. 13 Vanderbilt Sunday afternoon at Plainsman Park.

“We lost the battle yesterday, but we had a chance to win the series today and I thought we showed resilience throughout the game,” head coach Butch Thompson said.

🔼 A Good Lie For Tigers. Senior Brendan Valdes shot a masterful 5-under 67 Sunday at The Dunes Club to become Auburn's new program record-holder with the 69th subpar round of his career.

Sophomores Cayden Pope and Josiah Gilbert also went sub-70, carding a pair of 69s (-3). Fellow sophomore Jackson Koivun shot 2-under 70. All three join Valdes in the tournament's top 10. 

🔼 No Walk in the Park. Offense came at a premium Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field as No. 20 Auburn softball (20-8, 0-6 SEC) fell 3-0 to No. 5 Texas A&M (24-4, 4-2 SEC) in the series finale.

Walks hurt the Tigers in the first inning as three loaded the bases with one out for Mac Barbara, who drove in two with a single to center. Those would be the only runs to score until the seventh. Auburn had four Tigers reach base throughout the contest, but was unable to string together hits to push across runs. 

🔼 Donuts For the Dawgs. No. 11 Auburn shut out Mississippi State by a 4-0 score in Starkville on Sunday. Auburn looked dominant throughout the match, claiming the doubles point before earning straight set wins on each of the top three singles courts to complete the shutout.

“Winning 4-0 in the SEC on the road is never easy, so we will take it,” Auburn head coach Jordan Szabo said after the win. “We didn’t get to practice yesterday due to the storms, which was event more impressive.”

Earlier this week, Pearl and Broome swept the SEC Coach and Player of the Year awards voted on by the league’s head coaches and The Associated Press. The Tigers claimed their fifth SEC Championship title (regular season or postseason) under Pearl.

🔼 They Threw Caution to the Wind. The Auburn men’s tennis team braced for heavy wind gusts throughout the match to defend home court on Saturday, coming from behind to defeat Ole Miss by a 4-3 score with a spectacular ending at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. The match concluded with a second set tiebreak win by Will Nolan and two comeback three set victories from Alex Frusina and Billy Blaydes just minutes apart.

🔼 A Fitting Friday Finale. In their Neville Arena finales, the No. 14 Auburn gymnastics squad’s seniors went out in style Friday night, while the Tigers’ underclassmen earned big scores to help the team reach a 197.550 in a loss to No. 2 LSU.

Auburn (10-6, 3-5 SEC) saw eight career highs from seven gymnasts. One of those athletes was sophomore Paige Zancan, who reached a career high in two of her three events.

“The future is bright,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “I’ve told everybody this freshman and sophomore class reminds of the seniors that are leaving when they were freshmen.”

📅 ON THE DOCKET 

Monday, March 17
🏌🏽‍♀️ Women’s Golf @ Old Barnwell Derby Match Play in Aiken, South Carolina
⛳️ Men’s Golf @ General Hackler Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (R2)

Tuesday, March 18
🏌🏽‍♀️ Women’s Golf @ Old Barnwell Derby Match Play in Aiken, South Carolina
⛳️ Men’s Golf @ General Hackler Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (R3)
⚾️ Baseball vs. Alabama State @ 6 p.m. CT | Buy Tickets | Live Stats | Listen

Wednesday, March 19
🥎 Softball vs. South Alabama - Jimmy Buffett Night @ 5:30 p.m. SEC ESPN+ | Buy Tickets | Live Stats | WEGL 91.1 FM
🌊 Swimming & Diving @ Women’s NCAA Championships in Federal Way, Washington @ 8 p.m. CT

Thursday, March 20
🌊 Swimming & Diving @ Women’s NCAA Championships in Federal Way, Washington @ Noon CT
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Alabama State/Saint Francis @ NCAA Tournament @ 1:50 p.m. CT @ Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Kentucky - Richland Elementary School Day (K-2) @ 3.m. CT | Live Video | Live Stats

Friday, March 21
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Creighton/Louisville @ NCAA Tournament @ Time TBA @ Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
🌊 Swimming & Diving @ Women’s NCAA Championships in Federal Way, Washington @ Noon CT
🥎 Softball @ Texas @ 4 p.m. CT SEC ESPN+ | Live Stats | WEGL 91.1 FM
👟 X-Country/Track @ Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Vanderbilt - Spicy Hot Match Day @ 5 p.m. CT |  Live Video | Live Stats
⚾️ Baseball @ Kentucky @ 5:30 p.m. CT | Live Stats | Listen

Saturday, March 22
🌊 Swimming & Diving @ Women’s NCAA Championships in Federal Way, Washington @ Noon CT
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Tennessee - Saugahatchee Day @ Noon CT | Live Video | Live Stats
⚾️ Baseball @ Kentucky @ 1 p.m. CT | Live Stats | Listen
⚽️ Soccer vs. Mercer - Spring EXH @ 2 p.m. CT
🥎 Softball @ Texas @ 2 p.m. CT SEC ESPN+ | Live Stats | WEGL 91.1 FM
👟 X-Country/Track @ Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Alabama A&M - Saugahatchee Day @ 5 p.m. CT | Live Video | Live Stats

Sunday, March 23
🥎 Softball @ Texas @ Noon CT SEC ESPN+ | Live Stats | WEGL 91.1 FM
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Missouri @ Noon CT |  Live Video | Live Stats
⚾️ Baseball @ Kentucky @ 1 p.m. CT | Live Stats | Listen

🐅 Let’s have a great week, Auburn Fam!