AUBURN, Ala. – When Auburn takes the court Thursday night against Furman, it will have been nine days since the Tigers last played a game. Nine days since they last beat Richmond to win the Legends Classic in New York.
The time off has been good, though. For starters, Auburn jumped five spots to No. 14 in the latest AP poll. But more importantly, it's given the Tigers a chance to focus on themselves because while they might be the second-highest ranked SEC team at No. 14, head coach Bruce Pearls knows there is still work to be done.
"We are trying to become a very good basketball team," Pearl said. "I think we've become a good basketball team. We've improved a lot the last couple of months, but trust me, we have a long way to go."
One of the areas where Auburn has tried to work on with the time off is improving the bench. It's a collection of almost all newcomers who are still getting acclimated to the college game and still learning what it takes to play at this level, specifically on defense.
"I think the chemistry is good," Pearl said. "I think we do need to get more contribution from the bench. We've got a lot of inexperience coming off the bench. For us to become a great team, those guys are going to have to get better in a hurry - particularly the defensive end, knowing where they're supposed to be. The only way to do that is in practice with experience."
Thursday's game will tip off at 8 p.m. CT from Auburn Arena. Andy Burcham 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 Tom Hart and Andy Kennedy on the call.
Toys for Tots
The Toys for Tots Drive is back once again at Auburn Arena. Fans attending the game are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the arena upon arrival. A toy donation will bring joy and hope of the holidays to local children in need. Marines will be on site to assist.
Player to watch: Allen Flanigan
In his first season on the Plains, Allen Flanigan has been one of the first options off the bench for the Tigers. The lanky freshman is averaging 9.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per 40 minutes. In the four games he's played at least 10 minutes, Flanigan is averaging 4.5 points per game and shooting 47 percent from the floor.
Inside the series: Furman
This will be the sixth meeting between the Tigers and Paladins in program history. Auburn holds a 4-1 advantage in the series and has won the last four duels. The Tigers have faced Furman just twice since 2000, winning at home in 2004 (85-74) and in 2012 (64-50). Auburn is 57-26 all-time against members of the currently constructed Southern Conference.
Getting defensive
Auburn has held its first seven opponents under 75 points for the first time since 2003-04 season when the Tigers held their opening seven foes under the 75-point mark. Auburn, along with Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee, are the only teams in the SEC to hold every opponent under 75 points.
The 2019-20 Tigers have a chance to be the best defensive team under Bruce Pearl at Auburn. They are allowing only 66.4 points per game. Pearl's previous best defensive team on the Plains was the 2018-19 team that allowed 68.8 points per game.