AUBURN, Ala. – Bruce Pearl knows a round of golf Is not won on the first hole even with an eagle, just like a basketball game isn't won in the four minutes before the first media timeout.
Next Game:
South Carolina
Jan. 4, 2022
5:30 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
That's why the Tigers' SEC-opening 70-55 win over previously unbeaten LSU – while impressive – still leaves Auburn's coach hungry for improvement.
"Look, we turned the ball over 21 times against LSU," Pearl said. "Our offense got stagnant at points in the middle of the first half and part of the second half. We've got so much work still left to be done throughout the season."
Fresh off entering the top 10 as the SEC's highest ranked team, No. 9 Auburn travels to South Carolina Tuesday for the Tigers' first conference road game, expecting a challenge from Frank Martin's program and its penchant for physical defense.
"If you slop through your offense against South Carolina, they won't let you run it," Pearl said. "We'll be challenged physically at every position."
Auburn boasts a 2-0 away record this season, earning comeback wins at South Florida and Saint Louis.
"While we've had success on the road being 2-0, we were also down 15 at South Florida and 13 at Saint Louis," said Pearl, noting that the Tigers play three of their next four away from Auburn Arena. "That's the reality."
Fast starts are nothing new to Pearl's teams on the Plains. Auburn is 12-1 for the third time in five seasons, a feat the Tigers failed to accomplish in the previous 17 seasons from 2000-17.
"If we keep improving, we'll keep winning," he said. "That's going to be a real key for us. It would be hard to complain with where we are right now. I just hope we can take advantage of it."
Seeking its 10th straight win, No. 9 Auburn (12-1, 1-0) tips off against South Carolina (9-3, 0-0) Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. CT at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia on SEC Network. Andy Burcham and Sonny Smith will call the action on the Auburn Sports Network.
PLAYER TO WATCH: WALKER KESSLER
In Auburn's 70-55 victory over No. 16 LSU, sophomore big man Walker Kessler recorded the second-ever triple-double in program history – joining former Auburn forward Kenny Gabriel – with 16 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 11 blocks in 28 minutes of action. He shot 75 percent from the field and showed his diverse range with a made 3-pointer in the second half. Kessler also went 3 of 4 from the free throw line. Aside from his SEC weekly honor, he was named Naismith Trophy and ESPN Power Rankings Player of the Week.
INSIDE THE SERIES: SOUTH CAROLINA
Auburn leads 27-19 in the all-time series with South Carolina. The Tigers own a three-game
win streak in the series including a 109-86 victory in Columbia last season where they set the program record for most points scored in an SEC road win. Allen Flanigan led the way with 24 points while Sharife Cooper had 16 points, 12 assists and six rebounds.
Head coach Bruce Pearl is 17-6 against the Gamecocks, including a 5-4 mark as Auburn's head coach. Pearl is also 5-4 all-time against South Carolina head coach Frank Martin.
TOP 10 TIGERS
With Auburn cracking the top 10 in the AP Top 25 for the first time this season, the Tigers have now been ranked in the top 10 in four of the last five seasons under head coach Bruce Pearl. Before Pearl arrived, they were ranked in the top 10 just seven times – the most recent coming during the 1999-200 campaign when they climbed as high as No. 2.
Below are the highest national rankings achieved by Auburn in the Pearl Era.
2017-18: 8th
2018-19: 7th
2019-20: 4th
2021-22: 9th