AUBURN, Ala. – For the Auburn Tigers, finals week may be ending but one Big (Ten) test remains, Saturday's neutral site matinee matchup with Nebraska in Atlanta.
Next Game:
Nebraska
Dec. 11, 2021
10:30 a.m. CT
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
Studying the Cornhuskers' roster, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl estimates that Nebraska's talent level ranks behind only UConn compared to Auburn's non-conference opponents to date.
"I like their personnel," he said. "Our guys have got to be excited about playing."
Both programs have dealt with the flu this week but Auburn's lineup was back to full strength by Thursday, Pearl said.
Allen Flanigan, recovering from Achilles surgery, has returned to practice, with Pearl hopeful of getting playing time for the junior guard before Auburn's SEC opener vs. LSU on Dec. 29.
"It's great to have him back," Pearl said. "He gives us a chance to continue to grow and improve. We've got to get ready without him right now. We'll do what's best as far as his health and when he's completely ready."
With a 29-5 assist-to-turnover ratio, senior guard Zep Jasper has impressed Pearl at both ends of the floor.
"He affects winning as much as any player we have," Pearl said. "He doesn't put himself in positions to fail. He wants to win. He values possessions. Defensively, he's tenacious. He doesn't succumb to fatigue. He plays hard for 40 minutes and never takes a possession off."
No. 18 Auburn (7-1) tips off vs. Nebraska (5-5, 0-2) Saturday at 10:30 a.m. CT on ESPN2 from Atlanta's State Farm Arena. Andy Burcham and Sonny Smith will call the action on the Auburn Sports Network.
Player to Watch: Jabari Smith
Freshman forward Jabari Smith returns home to the Atlanta area for the first time of his young career at Auburn. He is currently on a team-best, five-game double-digit scoring streak including three 20-point outings in that stretch. Smith leads the Tigers in scoring (16.9 ppg) and rebounding (7.1 rpg), while second on the team in steals (14).
Inside the Series: Nebraska
Saturday's game will mark the first meeting between Auburn and Nebraska on the hardwood. For Auburn, it's the fourth first-time opponent on the schedule this season, and the Tigers have won all three previous meetings against Morehead State, Loyola Chicago and Yale. The last matchup against a Big Ten team came in 2016 against Purdue.
Peach State Homecoming
Six players on the Auburn roster return home to the Peach State this weekend and four from the greater Atlanta metro area including freshman Jabari Smith (Fayetteville), K.D. Johnson (Atlanta), Walker Kessler (Newnan) and Jaylin Williams (Nahunta).
Senior guard Zep Jasper, a native of Augusta, Georgia, currently ranks No. 2 nationally and No. 1 in the SEC in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.80). In seven of his last eight games, he has taken care of the ball with one or no turnovers.