AUBURN, Ala. – With Kentucky's home loss to South Carolina earlier this week, No. 21 Auburn now holds the second-longest home winning streak in college basketball at 27 games. It's a streak that dates back to February 2021.
Next Game:
Mississippi State
Jan. 14, 2023
7:30 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"It's definitely a boost playing at home," senior wing Allen Flanigan said. "The Jungle, the crowd, the atmosphere here in the arena – it's amazing. Anytime a team has to come in here and play us, it makes it 10 times harder."
That streak will be put to the test again Saturday when Auburn hosts Mississippi State, one of the better defensive teams in the country. The Bulldogs (11-3) are holding opponents to 56.8 points per game and rank No. 7 in defensive efficiency (88.6) according to KenPom.
"Big, strong and athletic," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said, describing Mississippi State.
"You'll go on the floor, and there will be three or four of those guys that you would think should be playing on Saturday afternoons for Mississippi State. Defensive-end, left-tackle types. Just big, strong, powerful, athletic, physical."
"Historically, Mississippi State is good on defense," junior center Dylan Cardwell added. "It's never really a high-scoring game with us and them. Even when we went there last year, we went to overtime, it was tough to get baskets there. I don't know what it is about Mississippi State, but I think teams average in the low 60s against them."
With Cardwell and Johni Broome inside, Auburn has also been tough to score against this season. The Tigers rank No. 15 nationally in defensive efficiency (90.7) and are holding opponents to 63.2 points per game and 39.3 percent shooting from the field.
"This will not be a game for the faint of heart," Pearl said.
The two defensive heavyweights will tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT from Neville Arena. Andy Burcham and Sonny Smith will have the radio call on 93.9 Tiger FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app. The game will also be televised on SEC Network.
Saturday's game will feature Throwback Night with a 90s theme and the return of the College Vault Pop-Up Shot at the arena. It's also the Fight for Literacy Game.
PLAYER TO WATCH: WENDELL GREEN JR.
Through the first four games of SEC play, Wendell Green Jr. is averaging 15.8 points, 4.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. He has tallied double figures against three of the four SEC opponents including a season-high 23 points at Ole Miss on Tuesday. It marked his third 20-point outing of the season. Green is also shooting a team-best 87.1 percent from the free throw line in those contests and was a perfect 11 of 11 versus the Rebels. Last year, he recorded the 11th-best single-season free throw percentage (.844) in program history.
INSIDE THE SERIES: MISSISSIPPI STATE
Auburn leads 80-70 in the all-time series with Mississippi State and holds a 47-25 advantage at home. The Tigers have won the last four in the series. Last year's 81-68 overtime victory in Starkville clinched the SEC regular season championship. Auburn was led by freshman Jabari Smith who finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
This is the second-ever meeting between Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl and Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans. Pearl and the Tigers previously faced Jans and his New Mexico State squad in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament (W, 78-77).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Johni Broome is currently on a four-game double-double streak, recording a double-double in all four SEC games this season. He finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds in Auburn's 82-73 win at Ole Miss on Tuesday. Broome became the first Auburn player with four straight double-doubles since Cinmeon Bowers did so during the 2015-16 season. The last Auburn player to have five in a row was two-time All-SEC standout Jeff Moore (1987-88).