Jan. 7, 2018
By Greg Ostendorf
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. -- Coming into the week, some might have questioned whether or not Auburn was legit. The Tigers were 12-1, but while the non-conference schedule featured a number of quality opponents, they were still missing that signature win.
How about two signature wins in one week?
Auburn brushed aside the doubters with back-to-back wins over Top-25 opponents. First, it was a road win at No. 23 Tennessee on Tuesday. Then, four days later, the Tigers took down No. 22 Arkansas, 88-77, in front of a sold-out crowd at Auburn Arena. It was the first time since 1958 that Auburn has defeated ranked SEC opponents in consecutive games.
"We're playing good basketball right now," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said after Saturday's game. "We have nine guys that are playing really well together, so we're in a good place. We have to take advantage of it when we get these opportunities. Our team is pleased, but our focus is to continue to get better."
Auburn (14-1, 2-0) is one of just two SEC teams yet to lose a conference game. Here are three takeaways from Saturday's conference home opener.
1. Blistering start
It might have been a chilly day outside, but it was red-hot in Auburn Arena to start Saturday's game. The place was jam-packed from the opening tip, and it was obvious that the players used that energy to their advantage.
On the game's opening possession, junior Bryce Brown knocked down a three-point shot. Then after the two teams traded buckets, point guard Jared Harper crossed his defender and made a jumper from way outside. Later, back-to-back three-point shots from Mustapha Heron pushed the lead to 22-10, and Auburn would never relinquish it -- leading from start to finish.
Heron, in particular, made several difficult shots early and scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half to help give the Tigers a 47-30 lead at the intermission. As a team, Auburn made 7 of 13 three-point shots and shot 54 percent from the floor in the first twenty minutes.
2. `Glue guy'
Led by Heron's 17 points, Auburn had five players score in double figures Saturday. But after the game, both coaches credited junior forward Desean Murray, who finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in 26 minutes.
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson described Murray as Auburn's glue guy.
"He's (made) a huge difference," Heron said. "It's not even a question. He does things that nobody else wants to do. We call him a 'little Charles Barkley.' He rebounds. He plays hard. He hits guys. He gets hit, and he doesn't fall. He just does the things that nobody else wants to do."
"Mustapha recognizes that Desean is all about winning," Pearl said. "And to win, you have to be able to rebound and have a good locker room. Desean in a lot of ways, by putting himself on this team, really improved our locker room."
The transfer from Presbyterian who sat out all of last year is averaging 10.9 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game for the Tigers this season.
3. Uncharted territory
Beating back-to-back ranked teams. Winning 12 straight games. Likely cracking the Top 25 when the polls come out Monday. These are achievements that haven't been done at Auburn in a long time, and it further validates the job Pearl has done this season.
But there's still plenty of games left, and being a Top-25 team in January doesn't mean all that much unless you keep playing well into March.
"It puts a bigger target on our head," Pearl said. "A win over Auburn is worth way more to the opponent. But our goals are bigger than being nationally ranked sometime in January. This team's goals are bigger. We're going to focus on that. I don't think there is any chance that we become too confident."
Auburn returns home Tuesday where it will face Ole Miss at 8 p.m. CT.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf