AUBURN, Ala. – Describing the importance of Auburn's midweek matchup at Georgia, Bruce Pearl did not mince words.
"I look at it this way: the Georgia game is a must-win if we're going to stay in this conference championship race," Pearl said.
A victory Wednesday in Athens would keep the Tigers one game behind first-place Kentucky in the SEC standings.
"Tough place to play, hard to win on the road, but if we're going to be in this conference championship race, we have to win the game," Pearl said. "Strong statement with seven games left, but I've always kept it real with my team."
No. 13 Auburn beat Georgia 82-60 on Jan. 11 at Auburn Arena, holding freshman Anthony Edwards, the SEC's third-leading scorer, to 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
"We played well in that game," Pearl said. "It was an important game for us, not only because the series against Georgia matters but because they're a talented, well-coached team and it was early in the SEC season.
"What makes Georgia such a dangerous team is they've got lots of different pieces. It's a dangerous opponent."
Auburn expects Isaac Okoro to travel to Athens, but Pearl said the star freshman's availability is uncertain. Okoro injured his hamstring in the Tigers' 95-91 overtime win vs. Alabama on Feb. 12.
"He's one of the best players in all of college basketball," Pearl said. "We've got to have that next-man-up mentality."
Auburn (22-3, 9-3) and Georgia (12-13, 2-10) tip off Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT in at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia. 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 ESPN2 with Tom Hart and Andy Kennedy on the call.
Player to watch: Austin Wiley
There hasn't been a more dominant big man in the SEC recently than Austin Wiley. Over his last three games, the senior has racked up three double-doubles and has averaged 16.7 points and 13.3 rebounds per contest. Wiley has 11 double-doubles this season, good for second in the league. The Hoover, Ala. native entered his senior campaign with two career double-doubles.
Inside the series: Georgia
When Auburn and Georgia take the court Wednesday, it will be the 191st meeting all-time 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 96-94.
Auburn won the matchup earlier this season on The Plains, 82-60. The Tigers poured in 34 points off the bench, highlighted by Allen Flanigan and Anfernee McLemore who each chipped in 12 points. Auburn also dominated inside, outscoring Georgia 44-24 in points in the paint.
Last month's win made it five straight wins vs. Georgia. It's the first five-game winning streak for the Tigers in the series since they won 12 straight between Jan. 17, 1976 and Feb. 27, 1980.
On this date
On Feb. 19, 1986, Auburn racked up an 87-86 overtime win in Athens. The Tigers trailed by three at the half but rallied for a come-from-behind victory thanks in large part to a double-double from former All-SEC guard Frank Ford who had 22 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Ford was the first McDonald's All-American to sign with Auburn. Former Georgia High School Player of the Year Chris Morris added 12 points and eight rebounds.
Under former head coach and current radio color analyst Sonny Smith, the Tigers eventually reached the Elite Eight that season, previously the greatest postseason run in program history before Auburn's trip to the Final Four in 2019.