AUBURN, Ala. – When No. 2 Auburn tips off Wednesday night vs. Vanderbilt at Auburn Arena, the Tigers will be well-rested.
Next Game:
Vanderbilt
Feb. 16, 2022
8 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
The gap between Saturday's 11 a.m. tip and Wednesday's 8 p.m. start – combined with not having to travel – allowed the Tigers to rest and recharge Sunday after beating Texas A&M 75-58 Saturday before turning their attention to the Commodores.
"This is as long a gap as we've had," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "I think it's important."
In Vanderbilt, the Tigers will face an opponent that won Jan. 4 at Arkansas and has won three of its past five SEC games while losing close road games at Kentucky and Tennessee.
"They're playing with confidence," said Pearl, noting Vanderbilt's depth. "They're going to play till the end. Because they can shoot the 3-ball, they're dangerous."
Auburn has won four straight in the series since ending Vanderbilt's 13-game series win streak. The Commodores still lead the overall series 88-55 but Auburn holds a 36-31 advantage on the Plains.
"One of the best college basketball programs in the SEC," Pearl said. "Jerry Stackhouse does a great job coaching them."
Vandy's Scotty Pippen Jr. leads the SEC in scoring, averaging 18.9 points per game.
"A really dangerous player with the ball," Pearl said.
Auburn's Zep Jasper will be tasked with guarding Pippen. Jasper returned vs. Texas A&M after missing two games with an illness.
"Zep is one of the best defensive guards in the country," Pearl said. "He's an extremely efficient player with a great assist-to-turnover ratio. He makes a great deal of difference on our team. We don't have great depth at that position."
Looking to improve to 14-0 at home, No. 2 Auburn (23-2, 11-1) hosts Vanderbilt (13-11, 5-7) Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT on SEC Network. Andy Burcham and Sonny Smith will call the action on the Auburn Sports Network.
"The key I think for us offensively would be to make more frees and more 3's," Pearl said. "If we can do that along with what we're doing from two, we'll be better."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer