'Trying to make history': Auburn plays Kentucky, seeks first Final Four

'Trying to make history': Auburn plays Kentucky, seeks first Final Four'Trying to make history': Auburn plays Kentucky, seeks first Final Four
Wade Rackley

Bryce Brown shoots Saturday on the eve of Sunday's Midwest Regional final vs. Kentucky

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Auburn's March Madness march against college basketball's royalty continues Sunday when the Tigers play Kentucky for the third time this season.

After dispatching Kansas and North Carolina – programs with nine combined NCAA Tournament championships - Auburn plays the eight-time national champion Wildcats.

"A school growing up that I always watched," said Auburn center Austin Wiley. "Every game I'm amped because we're in the tournament, but these 'blue bloods,' you've got to be amped up to play them."

Needing one more win to secure Auburn's first Final Four appearance and first 30-win season, the Tigers (29-9) are seeking their first victory this season against the Cats.

Kentucky beat Auburn 82-80 on the Plains in mid-January and defeated the Tigers 80-53 a month later in Lexington. The Tigers haven't lost since. Eleven consecutive victories, including the SEC Tournament championship and Auburn's first Elite Eight appearance in 33 years.

"Those are three of the greatest programs in college basketball," said point guard Jared Harper, whose attempt at a go-ahead shot in the final seconds of the first meeting bounced off the rim. "Part of me and part of all my teammates wanted to play them again because we definitely want the matchup to be able to get a win."

"We're trying to make history," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "To have an opportunity to get Kansas, North Carolina, and maybe Kentucky, what better way of having an opportunity to make history than to have that road to the Final Four?

"So we started talking about that as soon as the field came out. I think you've got to as a coach be able to show them a path to success.  Of all the matchups we've had, Kentucky will be the most difficult matchup. They're the most physical team in college basketball offensively and defensively. It's a tough matchup for us. It's going to take our best effort, without question."

Auburn will be without Chuma Okeke, who scored 45 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in the Tigers' three NCAA Tournament wins before injuring his knee Friday against North Carolina.

"I have confidence in all my teammates and I know Chuma has confidence in all of us, too," Harper said. "It's not going to take one player who steps into his role, or two players, it's going to take all nine of us. We're going to have to pitch in and do things Chuma was doing to help us win."

Unfinished business. Why not us? Do it for Chuma.

The Tigers' rallying cries culminate Sunday at 1:20 p.m. CT at Sprint Center on CBS and the Auburn Sports Network, a chance to avenge the defeat that propelled Auburn's late-season surge.

"I feel like we're playing a lot better than we were at that point," Harper said. "We're doing a couple things different. We're sharing the ball a lot better, we're making 3s. We're doing a lot of things defensively. If we're able to play our defense the way we've been playing for two halve

"I feel like we're playing a lot better than we were at that point," Harper said. "We're doing a couple things different. We're sharing the ball a lot better, we're making 3s. We're doing a lot of things defensively. If we're able to play our defense the way we've been playing for two halves, it'll be great for us."

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer