Why a double-bye in this SEC Tournament just means more for Auburn

The Tigers have talked about their depth all season long. They've put themselves in position to take advantage of it when it matters the most.

C Dylan Cardwell (Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers)

Jaylin Williams has played in more games — and won more games — than any other player in Auburn basketball history.

So, when his final home game as a Tiger was over Saturday night, he was relieved.

It wasn’t because his time playing in Neville Arena was over. It was because it meant that he wouldn’t have to play an additional game in the SEC Tournament this week.

“It means a lot, since I’m getting really old now,” Williams said Saturday night after Auburn’s 92-78 win over Georgia. “That extra game really would’ve hurt me.”

The scenario entering Saturday, in its simplest form, was “win and in” for a top-four seed. Auburn held a tiebreaker advantage over South Carolina, thanks to its 40-point shelling earlier this season.

That meant, if all four teams that were tied for second in the SEC won on the final day, Auburn couldn’t be the one on the outside looking in.

The Tigers opened the day with a chance to potentially climb as high as No. 2 in the final standings. But Alabama’s comeback against Arkansas and Kentucky’s road win over outright champion Tennessee put them in a position to where they would be the No. 4 seed with a victory.

While normal logic would tell you that a team would want to be the highest seed possible entering a tournament, Auburn might have gotten a more favorable draw — at least in the quarterfinals — by getting No. 4 instead of No. 3.

For starters, being the No. 4 seed means Auburn will be in the early window with No. 1 Tennessee on Friday and, potentially, Saturday. The No. 3 seed, which went to Alabama, will play the final quarterfinal late on Friday night. It’s a setup that’s more beneficial for fans wanting to watch or attend the game.

More importantly, the arrangement put Auburn on the opposite side of the bracket as No. 6 seed Florida, which handed the Tigers by far their roughest loss of the season.

Instead, barring an upset by either No. 12 seed Arkansas or No. 13 seed Vanderbilt, Auburn will likely face No. 5 seed South Carolina in the quarterfinals Friday.

The Tigers played by far their best game of the season against the Gamecocks, who have a significant gap between themselves and the rest of the top contenders in the SEC when it comes to ratings such as NET, KenPom and T-Rank.

Of course, you won’t hear Bruce Pearl talk about the No. 4 seed being a much more favorable draw. He pointed out, using Saturday’s results, how there’s danger lurking in every corner of the bracket this season.

“Vandy gave Florida a really good game today, didn't they?” Pearl said Saturday night, before hearing the Commodores beat the Gators after the Tigers had tipped off with the Bulldogs. “Wow. That tells you a little bit about the league. And South Carolina and Mississippi State was a nail-biter, right? And Arkansas almost beat Alabama.

“So, you look at all three of those teams right there. You look at how they're playing. They're playing well. We'll be ready for them.”

Auburn will get extra time to be ready for whoever comes out of the second round game Thursday night.

And that should only boost the Tigers’ biggest strength heading into the postseason.