Yale men’s basketball is headed west to play in the East.
The Bulldogs’ fourth NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016 will begin in Spokane, Wash., where Yale will face No. 4 Auburn as a No. 13 seed in the East Region. Tip-off time has yet to be released.
Yale (22-9, 13-3 Ivy) will look to win its second NCAA Tournament game under 25-year coach James Jones against Auburn (27-7, 16-5 SEC), which boasts a six-game winning streak and won the SEC Tournament with an 86-67 victory over Florida Sunday.
The Tigers are KenPom’s No. 4 team in the country, ranking best nationally in effective field-goal percentage allowed. Effective field-goal percentage takes into account the extra value of made three-pointers.
Auburn has been led by All-SEC first-team selection and 6-foot-10, 240-pound junior forward/center Johni Broome (16.2 points, 8.4 rebounds per game) and Second Team selection and 6-foot-8, 245-pound graduate forward Jaylin Williams (12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds per outing).
Yale’s last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2022, when it lost to Purdue as a No. 14 seed. The Bulldogs last drew a SEC foe in the NCAA Tournament in its previous appearance in 2019, a loss to Louisiana State as a No. 14 seed. Yale defeated Baylor as a No. 12 seed in 2016 before falling in the Round of 32 to No. 4 Duke.
Yale’s always a tough draw and they certainly have the talent to pull off the upset. With former Penn player and assistant coach on Bruce Pearl’s staff, Auburn should be taking the Bulldogs very seriously.