This is a bold statement, and I own it: Auburn’s basketball culture is second to none in the South.

I can feel the eyes rolling from my seat in our Birmingham, Alabama, offices. But it should be noted that my boss, Sid Evans, a loyal fan of the Tennessee Volunteers, actually asked me and colleagues to write this story. He knows it to be true.

But the reason Auburn has the best basketball culture in the South is not just because they sat atop the AP Poll for eight weeks this season or because they are a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament that started this week. It’s because the school, the players, the fans, the mascot, all of it is built to lift up the team and show that, win or lose, there’s no place like Auburn.

Instead of me opining endlessly—and believe me, I will—how about a list? We all love a list, right? Especially when Auburn is at the top.

The Jungle

I know a lot of people forget this, but college is for the students. College games should prioritize them, too. Auburn does just that by giving free admission to students, so student-athletes celebrate with students, as it should be.

“The Jungle,” as it’s known, is the Auburn student section. It wraps around one side of the floor and is positioned immediately behind one board so visiting players often have to compete with the loud and enthusiastic din of college students who aren’t concerned about screaming until they lose their voice.

But seating in The Jungle is first come, first served, so it’s not unusual for students to camp out days in advance of a big game. With their pop-up tents and camp chairs, the students establish what’s affectionally known as Jungle City or Pearlville, a nod to Head Coach Bruce Pearl. It’s not uncommon for basketball players and coaches to visit the temporary student housing, too, bringing pizza and warm drinks on cooler nights. Alumni have also been known to order pizza and doughnuts and have them delivered to the waiting crew.

You can also count on these supporters to show up when needed for other events. Take, for example, when ESPN’s College Gameday comes to town. The Saturday morning sports show has visited Auburn for five years in a row, the only basketball school to have such an honor. Students queue for this event, too, and of course they bring their best funniest and punniest signs to the stands.

Neville Arena

For years, college basketball arenas were taking after their football counterparts, building bigger, taller, and grander. But Auburn came along and said, “Nah!” Neville Arena, which opened in 2010, has a capacity of just over 9,000 seats. (It was called Auburn Arena until a name change in honor of donors Bill and Connie Neville in 2022.) It’s comfortable, modern, and a point of jealous comparison for many schools, and unbiased sports broadcasters routinely say it’s one of the best, if not the best, arena in all of college basketball.

Baylor (7,500), TCU (8,500), and Texas (10,763) are among the smallest arenas, with both Baylor and Texas having built their venues since 2022. Even the University of Alabama is downsizing their aging Coleman Coliseum from a 15,000-seat venue to new one just over 10,000 seats.

Folks know a good thing when they see it, right?

Charles Barkley And Supportive Alumni

The Round Mound of Rebound is one of Auburn’s greatest ambassadors, and he still makes time to get down to The Plains when he can, 40 years after he last wore the jersey for Auburn. The Leeds, Alabama, native is also honored with a statue outside Neville Arena.

But the Bread Truck isn’t the only celebrity you might spot around town come basketball season, and Auburn has a unique way of making famous faces known to the crowds: During a halftime cheer, a prominent member of the Auburn family will hold up the letter N in the A-U-B-U-R-N chant. It’s always a thrill to see who swings by to support their Tigers, from Olympic athletes to Miss America.

The Connection To The Team And Town

Auburn is a small college town, with nearly half the population made up of students. It should be no surprise then that many clubs and teams on campus are an important part of the community. One fan we know said basketball team members will greet students at their kid’s school, opening the car doors, and ushering students off buses and into classrooms.

Coach Pearl also brought his campaign to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer to Auburn when he joined the program in 2014. Started during his time as head coach at Tennessee, the Autlive game provides Auburn the opportunity to partner with organizations like the Mike Slive Foundation to offer free cancer screenings. Pearl even has his PSA checked during this event, looking for signs of prostate cancer.

We’re Just Happy To Be Here

I’ll put this succinctly: Auburn basketball was so bad for so long that the general fan posture is appreciation of recent successes. Hey, we’re just happy to be here. Our attitude is not entitled—like some other schools who expect to win and throw almighty fits when they don’t. I couldn’t possibly name the teams, could I? I could, but I won’t because even discussing this story in the Southern Living office has riled feathers, and I know most people will have stopped reading already in a hurry to make their spirited retort.

So thanks for reading, and Virginia double dribbled.