AUBURN, Ala. – With Kentucky’s house loss to South Carolina earlier this week, No. 21 Auburn now holds the second-longest house successful streak in faculty basketball at 27 video games. It is a streak that dates again to February 2021.
“It is undoubtedly a lift enjoying at house,” senior wing Allen Flanigan stated. “The Jungle, the group, the environment right here within the enviornment – it is superb. Anytime a group has to return in right here and play us, it makes it 10 occasions tougher.”
That streak might be put to the check once more Saturday when Auburn hosts Mississippi State, one of many higher defensive groups within the nation. The Bulldogs (11-3) are holding opponents to 56.8 factors per sport and rank No. 7 in defensive effectivity (88.6) in line with KenPom.
“Large, robust and athletic,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl stated, describing Mississippi State.
“You will go on the ground, and there might be three or 4 of these guys that you’d assume needs to be enjoying on Saturday afternoons for Mississippi State. Defensive-end, left-tackle varieties. Simply large, robust, highly effective, athletic, bodily.”
“Traditionally, Mississippi State is nice on protection,” junior heart Dylan Cardwell added. “It is by no means actually a high-scoring sport with us and them. Even once we went there final yr, we went to additional time, it was powerful to get baskets there. I do not know what it’s about Mississippi State, however I feel groups common within the low 60s in opposition to them.”
With Cardwell and Johni Broome inside, Auburn has additionally been powerful to attain in opposition to this season. The Tigers rank No. 15 nationally in defensive effectivity (90.7) and are holding opponents to 63.2 factors per sport and 39.3 p.c capturing from the sector.
“This won’t be a sport for the faint of coronary heart,” Pearl stated.
The 2 defensive heavyweights will tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT from Neville Enviornment. Andy Burcham and Sonny Smith may have the radio name on 93.9 Tiger FM, on-line at AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app. The sport may even be televised on SEC Community.
Saturday’s sport will characteristic Throwback Night time with a 90s theme and the return of the School Vault Pop-Up Shot on the enviornment. It is also the Battle for Literacy Recreation.
PLAYER TO WATCH: WENDELL GREEN JR.
By means of the primary 4 video games of SEC play, Wendell Inexperienced Jr. is averaging 15.8 factors, 4.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and a pair of.5 steals per sport. He has tallied double figures in opposition to three of the 4 SEC opponents together with a season-high 23 factors at Ole Miss on Tuesday. It marked his third 20-point outing of the season. Inexperienced can also be capturing a team-best 87.1 p.c from the free throw line in these contests and was an ideal 11 of 11 versus the Rebels. Final yr, he recorded the Eleventh-best single-season free throw share (.844) in program historical past.
INSIDE THE SERIES: MISSISSIPPI STATE
Auburn leads 80-70 within the all-time collection with Mississippi State and holds a 47-25 benefit at house. The Tigers have gained the final 4 within the collection. Final yr’s 81-68 additional time victory in Starkville clinched the SEC common season championship. Auburn was led by freshman Jabari Smith who completed with 27 factors and 10 rebounds.
That is the second-ever assembly between Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl and Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans. Pearl and the Tigers beforehand confronted Jans and his New Mexico State squad within the first spherical of the 2019 NCAA Match (W, 78-77).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Johni Broome is at the moment on a four-game double-double streak, recording a double-double in all 4 SEC video games this season. He completed with 19 factors and 10 rebounds in Auburn’s 82-73 win at Ole Miss on Tuesday. Broome grew to become the primary Auburn participant with 4 straight double-doubles since Cinmeon Bowers did so throughout the 2015-16 season. The final Auburn participant to have 5 in a row was two-time All-SEC standout Jeff Moore (1987-88).