AUBURN, Ala. – With a top 15 Kentucky team coming to town Saturday, it would be easy for No. 2 Auburn to look past Wednesday's game against Georgia. Kentucky is 14-3 on the season while the Bulldogs have yet to win their first SEC game.
Next Game:
Georgia
Jan. 19, 2022
8 p.m. CT
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl called it for it what it is during his Zoom call Monday.
"It's absolutely a trap game," Pearl said. "But it's a trap game against our rival. It's a trap game that we split the last two years with.
"I can point very easily to Saturday night when Ole Miss came out and for the first 17 minutes, it's like being in a boxing match and just getting absolutely pounded. But we didn't fall down. We still stayed on our feet, and we were able to kind of recover and wear them down. I would expect that from Georgia."
There's also a target on Auburn's back now as the Tigers are ranked No. 2 nationally and are 5-0 start conference play for the first time since 1998-99 and only the fourth time in program history (5-0, 1999; 5-0, 1965; 12-0, 1959).
One player who won't need any extra motivation against the Bulldogs is K.D. Johnson. The sophomore guard played at Georgia last year where he averaged 13.5 points per game. For Auburn this year, he's third on the team with 12.9 points per game and has scored 50 total points over the last three games. He also has three steals in each of those games.
But nothing changes for Johnson going against his former team.
"It's just going to be the same as another game," he said. "You see me getting hyped at every game. I'm going to be the same KD. It's nothing new."
Auburn and Georgia 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 and online at AuburnTigers.com, and the game will also be televised on ESPNU with Tom Hart and Pat Bradley on the call.
PLAYER TO WATCH: K.D. JOHNSON
Sophomore guard K.D. Johnson, a transfer from UGA, has been a spark both offensively and defensively for the Tigers over the last three SEC contests. He's averaged 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game combined against Florida, No. 24 Alabama and Ole Miss. Johnson has reached double figures 12 times this season and has become a fan favorite among Auburn fans because of his passionate play on the court.
INSIDE THE SERIES: GEORGIA
Despite losing two of the last three meetings, Auburn still holds a one-game advantage (97-96) in the all-time series with Georgia. The Tigers are 62-25 when playing on their home court and have won four of the last six games in Auburn Arena. The last home victory came in January 2020 when Samir Doughy scored a team-high 17 points.
Head coach Bruce Pearl is 18-9 all-time against Georgia.
KNOCKING ON NO. 1
Auburn came in at No. 2 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll, trailing No. 1 Gonzaga by just four points (1,486 to 1,482). The Tigers earned 36 first-place votes to Gonzaga's 25. The No. 2 ranking is still the highest ranking Auburn has achieved under head coach Bruce Pearl, and it's the highest the Tigers have been ranked since 1999. Prior to this week, Auburn has been ranked No. 2 three times – twice in 1999 and once in 1959.