AUBURN, Ala. – For a program that's all about making history, Auburn will have another chance to do just that Wednesday when it hosts Vanderbilt.
With a win against the Commodores, the 2019-20 seniors will become the winningest class in program history with 88 total wins over four seasons. They are currently tied with the 2000-01 senior class, who won 87 games over a four-year span.
"It would be something special," Auburn senior Austin Wiley said. "Coming in here and playing with the expectation of making history is a big deal in order to be special.
"The program has changed a lot. Being around the program when I was younger, my parents and I followed along and were usually kind of disappointed. But now, to be considered part of the reason this program is turning around is a great feeling. We'll keep getting better and continue to build on this in the future."
Wiley, Anfernee McLemore and Danjel Purifoy are the three seniors who have been with the program since the 2016-17 season. However, the Tigers wouldn't be in this position without fellow seniors Samir Doughty and J'Von McCormick, who have each played the past two seasons after transferring in.
"Austin, Danjel and Anfernee have a chance to be the winningest group in four years," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. "They're already the winningest group in three years. We've got to win 26-plus games to be the winningest group in two years. So for Samir Doughty or J'Von McCormick or any of the seniors that have only played two seasons, that's a real goal of ours, too. If we can get that done, it would cap that off."
At 13-0, Auburn is already halfway to 26 wins. The Tigers, who moved into the top five this week for the first time since 2000, will also be aiming to keep their perfect record intact against Vanderbilt on Wednesday.
The 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 Mike Morgan and Jon Sundvold on the call.
Player to watch: Danjel Purifoy
Danjel Purifoy is making the most of his final go-round in an Auburn uniform. The senior is nearly averaging double figures at 9.6 points per game, and he's also the second-best rebounder on the team at 5.2 boards per contest. Over the last two games against Lipscomb and Mississippi State, Purifoy is averaging 14.0 points and 8.5 rebounds and shooting 50 percent from 3 (6-of-12).
Inside the series: Vanderbilt
Auburn and Vanderbilt are set to square off for the 142nd time in series history. The Commodores hold an 88-53 advantage in the overall series, but an Auburn win on Wednesday would be the program's third straight victory over the Commodores, matching Auburn's total number of wins in the previous 21 games in the series. Prior to winning the last two, the Tigers had lost 13 straight against Vanderbilt.
Head coach Bruce Pearl is 10-8 in his career against Vanderbilt, including a 6-2 mark at home.
About that No. 5 ranking
Auburn earned its first top-5 ranking since Jan. 17, 2000 with the latest AP poll putting the Tigers at No. 5. It is just the fifth season the program has been ranked in the top five in its history (1958-59, 1986-87, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2019-20).
Bruce Pearl is no stranger to being ranked inside the top five. His teams have achieved the benchmark in 10 of his 25 seasons as a head coach. Pearl and Southern Indiana were ranked in the top five every season from 1994-2001 reaching as high as No. 1 in 1995 and between 1997-99. Pearl's 2007 Tennessee team also reached No. 1.
Home cookin'
Auburn is currently riding a 10-game home winning streak inside Auburn Arena. It is the third home winning streak of at least 10 games since the final home game of the 2016-17 season. There had only been six home winning streaks of at least 10 games in program history prior to that.