Feb. 20, 2018
#12 Auburn vs. Alabama
(2017-18 RECORD: 23-4, 11-3 SEC) vs. (2017-18 RECORD: 18-10, 8-6 SEC)
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| Wed, Feb 20 | 7:30 p.m. |
By Greg Ostendorf
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" It has been rare to see Auburn play following a loss this season. Prior to Saturday, the Tigers had only lost three games all year. And all three times, they responded in a major way with a double-digit win their next time out.
In Charleston, following a loss to Hofstra, Auburn bounced back with an 89-78 win the next day against Hofstra. The other two times, the Tigers secured wins over Georgia after losing to Alabama and Texas A&M. This time, they will face a stiffer challenge as they look to move past the South Carolina loss at home against Alabama on Wednesday.
"Alabama is the best defensive team in the league," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "They lead the league in blocked shots and field-goal percentage defense. They're huge. I think they're the most talented team in the league. They're deep. They're long. A lot of the things they do have been some of the things that have bothered us.
"Finding ways to score on them is going to be difficult and keeping them off the glass and out of the paint is going to be our great challenge."
In the first meeting between the two sides, Auburn shot just 39 percent from the field and was held to a season-low 71 points.
That was in Tuscaloosa, though. The rematch Wednesday will be in the friendly confines of Auburn Arena where the Tigers are shooting 48 percent and averaging 89.1 points per game this season. They have won 12 of their 14 home games by double digits, and the crowd for Alabama is expected to be another sellout ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" the sixth in the team's last seven home games.
"I'm not sure that there was a better environment in college basketball tonight than Auburn, Alabama," Pearl said after a 76-66 win over Kentucky last week. "It was the loudest that I've ever heard the building."
It could be a similar environment, if not louder, Wednesday night.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT from Auburn Arena. Rod Bramblett and Sonny Smith will have the radio call on 93.9 Tiger FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app. The game will also be televised on SEC Network with Mike Morgan and Pat Bradley on the call.
Player to watch: Chuma Okeke
Freshman Chuma Okeke has played a key role off the bench for the Tigers as they enter the final stretch of the 2017-18 regular season. Okeke has 13 games with at least 10 points, including seven in SEC. The Atlanta, Ga. native is shooting at a 50 percent clip in SEC play, highlighted by 44.1 percent behind the arc. Okeke has netted at least one 3-pointer 15 times this campaign.
Inside the series: Alabama
Auburn has won four of its last five duels against Alabama at home, dating back to 2013. In those games, the Tigers have outscored the Tide by an average of 11.6 points per game, including two victories by 19 or more points.
There have been 14 decisions decided by 10 or fewer points in the series since 2005, including a 5-point loss by Auburn earlier this year.
Balanced attack
Through 27 games this season, Auburn has had five or more players score in double figures 11 times. By comparison, the Tigers accomplished that feat just six times a year ago. Nine players have eclipsed the 10-plus point plateau multiple times this season, led by Jared Harper who has scored 10 or more points in 23 of the team's 27 games.
Halftime adjustments
After falling behind by 22 at the half at South Carolina, Auburn responded with 50 points after halftime. It was the ninth time this season that the Tigers have scored 50 or more points in the second half and the sixth time in 14 SEC games.
Trophy presentation
At halftime of Wednesday's game, the Auburn football team will receive the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy for beating Alabama in this past year's Iron Bowl. The 26-14 victory clinched the SEC West title for the Tigers, and it was the second time in three weeks that they knocked off the No. 1 team in the country.
Take a timeout
Click here to vote for Bruce Pearl and Children's Harbor in the Coaches Charity Challenge. The coach with the most votes after four rounds wins $100,000 for their charity. Each charity will receive money for every round their representative coach is voted through.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf