AUBURN, Ala. – Gainesville, Florida, historically, has been unkind to Auburn basketball, a fact Bruce Pearl intends to share with his team before the Tigers visit the Gators on Saturday.
Next Game:
Florida
Feb. 19, 2022
1 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"Auburn last won in Florida on Feb. 10, 1996, 13 straight losses," Pearl said in his opening remarks to reporters on Thursday. "I've not beaten them down there as Auburn's coach. They're 11-3 at home, 4-2 at home in the league. I would like the players to know what we're up against."
This meeting, however, could be different. The second-ranked Tigers are 7-1 on the road this season, including 5-1 in SEC away games.
With five games remaining until the SEC Tournament, Auburn at 12-1 leads Kentucky and Tennessee by two games.
"I think we need to win if we're going to win the SEC championship," Pearl said. "This is an important opportunity for us."
Auburn won the first meeting 85-73 on Jan. 8 at Auburn Arena behind 23 points from K.D. Johnson.
"It's been a tough matchup for us," Pearl said. "We talked about that when we played Florida at home. They've done a good job against us."
Auburn's frontcourt displayed its dominance in the Tigers' 94-80 win vs. Vanderbilt on Wednesday. Not only did Jabari Smith (31 points) and Walker Kessler (22 points) post career highs, backups Jaylin Williams (eight points, four rebounds) and Dylan Cardwell (four points, three rebounds) also made the most of their minutes.
Auburn's 4 and 5 positions combined for 65 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and eight blocked shots against the Commodores.
"Together, Walker and Dylan have been terrific," Pearl said. "Together, Jaylin and Jabari have been terrific. At the 4 and the 5 spot, I don't know that anybody in the country has better starters or better guys coming off the bench."
Seeking the program's first victory at Florida since before any of the current Tigers was born, No. 2 Auburn (24-2, 12-1) plays the Gators (16-10, 6-7) at O'Connell Center Saturday at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN. Andy Burcham and Sonny Smith will call the action on the Auburn Sports Network.
PLAYER TO WATCH: JABARI SMITH
Freshman phenom Jabari Smith had a career-high 31 points in the Tigers' win over Vanderbilt on Wednesday night. He connected on a career-best 7-of-10 from beyond the arc and became the first AU player since Samir Doughty (32 pts, 3/7/2020) to score 30 in a game. He also became the first Auburn freshman to turn in a 30-point outing since Toney Douglas in 2004-05.
INSIDE THE SERIES: FLORIDA
Auburn holds a 90-82 advantage in the all-time series with Florida and has won the last two meetings, both coming at Auburn Arena. The Tigers beat Florida earlier this season, 85-73, behind a 23-point effort from sophomore guard K.D. Johnson.
The Gators are 50-29 in games played in Gainesville and have won 13 in a row at the O'Connell Center. Auburn's last win in Gainesville was Feb. 10, 1996 (73-70). Prior to that, it was Feb. 6, 1988 (58-57). Auburn is 2-18 in the last 20 road meetings at Florida dating back to 1988.
24 AND COUNTING
Auburn's 24 wins this season are tied for the fifth-most wins in the program's single-season history. Its next win will equal the fourth-most set two seasons ago (2019-20). Four of the top seven single-season win totals have come under current head coach Bruce Pearl.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer