By DANIEL MATTHEWS, US SENIOR SPORTS WRITER
Published: 11:01 EDT, 18 March 2026 | Updated: 11:01 EDT, 18 March 2026
Auburn basketball star KeShawn Murphy has gone AWOL just days after the Tigers missed out on March Madness.
Head coach Steven Pearl suggested the forward's time with the Tigers is over after he chose not to play in the National Invitational Tournament.
Auburn was one of the big-name omissions from this year's March Madness, with a place in the NIT a consolation for the program.
But after his team's quarterfinal victory over South Alabama on Tuesday, Peal revealed: 'Murph has decided not to play in these games and I’m not sure why.'
The head coach tried to play down any concerns over his star player's absence, insisting: 'We love Murph and have a lot of love for everything he’s done for us and his commitments to this program. Wish him well.
'I want him still to finish up academically, but I have nothing but love for Murph. Came here and wanted to try to make history for Auburn, and he ultimately decided not to play. Just gonna pour into the guys that are here and want to hoop.'
Auburn star KeShawn Murphy has gone AWOL after the Tigers missed out on March Madness
'Murph has decided not to play in these games and I’m not sure why,' coach Steven Pearl said
Murphy joined the Tigers for the 2025-26 season after three years with Mississippi State
It is not unheard of for players to miss postseason games if their team does not qualify for the NCAA tournament.
But, according to On3, Murphy did not tell anyone on the coaching staff that he would sit out the tournament. He also skipped practice on Monday. No other Auburn player is believed to be missing the NIT.
On Monday, Peal claimed: 'As of right now, no one’s called me or any of my staff saying that they’re not playing.
'We visited (Sunday) night after the Selection Show, and obviously everyone was upset from not having made the tournament. I told them to sleep on it and I’ll be with them here in the next 30 minutes.'
Murphy joined the Tigers for the 2025-26 season after spending three years with Mississippi State. Without him, Auburn faces Seattle in the second round of the NIT later this week.
NBAMarch Madness