Game Day: Auburn vs. Virginia in first Final Four

040519_mbb__wr_10602040519_mbb__wr_10602
Wade Rackley

The Tigers break it down Friday after their practice at U.S. Bank Stadium

MINNEAPOLIS – When Auburn and Virginia tip off Saturday at 5:09 p.m. CT, only the school colors will be the same.

The playing styles for the Tigers and Cavaliers contrast like a Prince song on a country radio station.

Auburn prefers a fast tempo. Virginia, not so much.

The Tigers force 17.3 turnovers per game, tops among power conferences. The Cavaliers are careful with the ball, committing only nine turnovers on average, fewest in the ACC.

"Our guys understand Virginia's length," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "They understand that Virginia is probably the most efficient team in college basketball because they're in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency."

Auburn has made 445 3-pointers this season, No. 1 in the nation and the second-most in D-I history, including 49 in the Tigers' four NCAA Tournament wins.

"They have confidence in each other, and they also have confidence in what we do," Pearl said. "We're going to get some open looks, and we'd better knock them down."

At every media session this week, Pearl has used his platform to extol Auburn University's virtues.

"Auburn is one of the finest institutions in the southern part of the country," he said. "It's a destination place for people in the South. We've got phenomenal programs nationally ranked in many things, and all this is going to do is bring some more credibility.

"Auburn's a great college town, and I think that the kids that go to Auburn want to be in that environment. It's a very, very special place, and I think more people are going to visit it now because of Auburn being in the Final Four."

Auburn's unprecedented Final Four run, including consecutive wins over Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky (17 combined NCAA Tournament championships) has elevated the basketball program's profile, which figures to pay recruiting dividends.

"We've proven that our kids can come to Auburn, get better and play for championships," Pearl said.

Auburn's school colors are orange and blue because George Petrie, who coached Auburn's first football team and wrote the Auburn Creed, was a Virginia alum who brought his alma mater's colors to the Plains.

Texas Tech plays Michigan State in Saturday's second semifinal. Only one team wearing orange and blue will advance to Monday's title game.

"One of these four teams is going to survive this weekend, and the prize is the national championship," Pearl said. "We'd like for it to be Auburn."

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