The Auburn Tigers struggles down the stretch of the basketball season have not gone unnoticed. The discourse around Bruce Pearl's team has largely centered around the fact it has lost three of four games heading into the NCAA Tournament, something no National Champion has ever done before.

Auburn men’s basketball’s quest for a national championship will officially begin Thursday, as the Tigers will face either Alabama State or St. Francis (PA). It will be in the second TV window of the day on Thursday, with the game scheduled to tip off at 1:50 p.m.

In something of a surprise, both North Carolina and Texas slid in off the bubble, while Indiana, West Virginia, and Boise State did not.

Auburn basketball will play the No. 16 seed Alabama State in its first-round game of the NCAA tournament. This comes after the Hornets defeated the Red Flash in Tuesday’s First Four round 70-68, winning the programs first ever NCAA tournament game.

This is the final update of the season for the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings — where Auburn remains No. 1 for the 68th consecutive day. I'm glad the selection committee saw things similarly.