Dec. 15, 2017
Auburn vs. Middle Tennessee
(2017-18 RECORD: 8-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. (2017-18 RECORD: 7-1, 0-0 C-USA)
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| Sat, Dec 16 | 5 p.m. |
By Greg Ostendorf
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Bruce Pearl and his Auburn basketball team are riding a high coming off last Saturday's win over UAB. The Tigers are currently 8-1 for the first time since the 2011 season and for only the second time since 2000.
However, with SEC play quickly approaching, Auburn is about to embark on the toughest part of its non-conference schedule over the next week.
There's a trip to Murray State on Tuesday. Then there's a home game against Connecticut a week from Saturday. But the biggest upcoming challenge, and arguably the biggest challenge the Tigers have faced all season, will be this Saturday when they make the trip up to Birmingham to play Middle Tennessee State in the Birmingham Jam.
"We scheduled the series when I first got to Auburn," Pearl said. "I had played Kermit [Davis] on a regular basis when I was at Tennessee. I knew how well-coached his teams were, and they always competed for conference championships. They have just continued and gotten better and better and better."
The Blue Raiders have pulled off a first-round upset the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two years, and this year, they already have wins over Vanderbilt and Ole Miss. They are currently ranked No. 13 in the RPI.
Some fans might recognize the name Giddy Potts, one of the stars of Middle Tennessee State's two tournament appearances the past two years, but the player Auburn needs to try and slow down is Nick King, a transfer from Alabama who is currently tied for fourth nationally with 24.3 points per game through the team's first eight games.
Some fans might recognize the name Giddy Potts, one of the stars of Middle Tennessee State's two tournament appearances the past two years, but the player Auburn needs to try and slow down is Nick King, a transfer from Alabama who is currently tied for fourth nationally with 24.3 points per game through the team's first eight games.
"He's just one of those guys that needed the right position, the right home, the right system, and he's flourishing as a power forward for Kermit Davis," Pearl said. "He's a tough matchup for everybody. It'll be a great matchup between him and Desean Murray, Chuma Okeke -- those are the guys that are going to be responsible from our standpoint to guard him."
The game, scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. CT, will follow UAB and Alabama A&M at the Legacy Arena. Rod Bramblett and Sonny Smith will have the radio call on 93.9 Tiger FM, online at www.AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app. The game will also be broadcast on SEC Network with Mike Morgan and Daymeon Fishback on the call.
Player to watch: Jared Harper
In the last five games, the sophomore point guard has brought his "A" game on the floor. The Mableton, Ga., native has totaled 56 points and 28 assists, good for averages of 11.2 points and 5.6 assists per game. Harper has made a living from behind the arc in his second season on The Plains. He has 18 makes from downtown, including five games with multiple tallies.
Inside the series: Middle Tennessee
The Tigers and Blue Raiders are set to meet for the fifth time in series history. Auburn holds a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series after winning the first three matchups in 2004, 2010 and 2014.
In their most recent meeting, the Blue Raiders took an 88-81 decision in overtime in 2015.
Top of the pack
Auburn has fared well in the past two seasons in the non-conference slate. The Tigers lead the SEC in both wins (19) and winning percentage (.864) in non-league regular season games since the start of last campaign.
Arkansas and Kentucky are next on the list, each with 18-4 records over that span, respectively.
Young roster
Auburn is tied with Kentucky with the most underclassmen in the nation with 12 on the roster and only one senior. The Tigers are one of just seven teams in the country to have 10 or more on their roster.
On this date
On Dec. 16, 1976, Auburn put on a show after defeating VCU, 109-59. The 109 points are the most the Tigers have scored on an opponent's floor in program history. The 50-point victory currently stands as the 15th largest win in program history.
The Tigers are 11-6 on this date all-time and have won the last four tilts.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf