AUBURN, Ala. – The next game is always the most difficult. For No. 5 Auburn, that truly might be the case with Georgia coming to town Saturday. The Bulldogs feature Anthony Edwards, a freshman who many believe could be the No. 1 overall pick in June's NBA draft.
"Our basketball fans have gotten to see some of the all-time greatest players down here in Auburn," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. "When you watch a guy like Anthony Edwards, that comes to mind. He's a consensus top pick. He was a consensus top-three player in the country. It'll be a great, great matchup for us."
The Tigers, however, can counter with their own star freshman, Isaac Okoro.
Okoro is coming off a career night against Vanderbilt where he scored 23 points, but what has separated him from the other top freshmen this season is his ability to defend. That will be important Saturday with Okoro likely matching up against Edwards.
"The young man is all about winning," Pearl said. "That's what Isaac Okoro is all about. He knows you need to defend and rebound to win, and so that's why he's been excellent. Defense and rebounding wins championships and that's what you need to do and that's what he's always done. He takes pride in it."
As a team, the Tigers entered the week allowing only 65.8 points per game to opponents. That's the lowest mark under Pearl in his five-plus seasons as head coach.
Because of inclement weather in the area, Saturday's game has been moved up and will now tip off at 11 a.m. CT inside 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 ESPNNEWS with Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes on the call.
Player to watch: Isaac Okoro
Tabbed as the No. 2 player out of Georgia, Isaac Okoro has established himself as one of the best freshmen in the country. With Auburn's 14-0 start to the season, the Powder Springs native hasn't lost a game in nearly two years after leading McEachern High School to a 32-0 record his senior season. Okoro's last loss was to Norcross High School in the Elite Eight on Feb. 8, 2018.
Inside the series: Georgia
Auburn and Georgia are set for the 190th all-time meeting between the programs. The Bulldogs are the most common opponent in the 114-year history of Auburn basketball. The Tigers hold a slight edge in the series at 95-94.
Auburn has won the last four against the Bulldogs and are in search of a fifth consecutive win for the first time since winning 12 straight between Jan. 17, 1976 and Feb. 27, 1980. The Tigers have won 12 of the last 15 contests in Auburn and hold a 61-24 mark at home all-time.
Head coach Bruce Pearl is 16-7 against Georgia as a head coach, including a 6-4 mark at Auburn, 10-2 at Tennessee and 0-1 at Milwaukee.
Plucked from the Peach State
Auburn has four players from the state of Georgia on its roster in Babatunde Akingbola, Anfernee McLemore, Isaac Okoro and Jaylin Williams. In total, the Tigers have signed 10 players from the Peach State under Pearl.
Streaking in the SEC
Auburn has won 11 straight over SEC opponents, all during its run of winning 26 of its last 27 games. The streak began when the Tigers won at Georgia, 78-75, to begin their 12-game winning streak last year that finished with the program's first appearance in the Final Four.