AUBURN, Ala. – Conference bragging rights will be on the line Saturday when the SEC and Big 12 square off in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. No. 15 Auburn will try to do its part for the SEC with a difficult road trip to West Virginia.
Next Game:
at West Virginia
Jan. 28, 2023
11 a.m. CT
TV: ESPN
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"I feel like it's a big challenge with the Big 12 being a great conference this year," Auburn senior guard Zep Jasper said. "As the SEC, we've got a point to prove that we have to be on top – win more games than the Big 12. This would be a Quad 1 win if we could get it."
Auburn is 4-3 all-time in the Big 12/SEC Challenge with wins over Oklahoma (2022), Iowa State (2020) and TCU (2017). This will be the first time the Tigers have seen West Virginia in the Challenge and the first meeting between the two sides since 2007.
However, Auburn got a preview of West Virginia in Wednesday's home loss to Texas A&M.
"You look at West Virginia and you look at Texas A&M, and you see a lot of similarities," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. "Tough, physical, hard-nosed."
"We just have to match the physicality of our opponent," added freshman guard Tre Donaldson. "I feel like that's the biggest thing. BP always talks about not passing on physical plays, and I think we did that a little bit Wednesday night. Going into West Virginia, we're looking to make those physical plays and match the physicality."
West Virginia is the sixth-oldest team in college basketball. After an 0-5 start to conference play, the Mountaineers have responded with wins in two of their last three games, including a 74-65 victory over No. 14 TCU at home.
It won't be easy to go on the road and get a win, but it also presents an opportunity.
"People who look at the schedule, you look at it and go 'Wow.' This is probably the toughest 12-game stretch I can ever remember in my career," Pearl said. "But at the same time, it's an incredible opportunity."
Auburn and West Virginia will tip off at 11 a.m. CT from WVU Coliseum in Morgantown. Andy Burcham and Joe Ciampi 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 ESPN.
PLAYER TO WATCH: ZEP JASPER
Senior guard Zep Jasper has long admired West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins' style of pressure defense. Jasper, who earned the nickname "Honey Badger" for his own pesky, on-ball defense, has played and started in all 20 games this season for the Tigers. He knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the first half against Texas A&M on Wednesday. While the Mountaineers boast one of the oldest rosters in college basketball, Jasper (25) is currently one of the oldest players in Division 1. He's in second year at Auburn.
INSIDE THE SERIES: WEST VIRGINIA
Auburn and West Virginia are tied 2-2 in the all-time series. The last meeting came 16 years ago (Dec. 5, 2007) in the Big East/SEC Invitational where West Virginia won 88-59 in Birmingham, Alabama. This will be Auburn's second trip to Morgantown. The first trip was on Dec. 29, 1984, and the Tigers finished the game on a 6-0 run to win 59-58. Chuck Person finished with a game-high 32 points and scored the go-ahead basket with 1:47 left.
DEANS OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl (15th, 630) and West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins (2nd, 928) are among the top 15 NCAA Division I active coaches in most career wins. This will be the second Pearl and Huggins have faced off against each other. The first came in 2007 when Pearl's Tennessee squad beat West Virginia 74-72 in the semifinals of the Legends Classic.
Most Career Wins – Active Division I Coaches
1. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse: 1,011
2. Bob Huggins, West Virginia: 928
3. Cliff Ellis, Coastal Carolina: 827
4. John Calipari, Kentucky: 782
5. Bill Self, Kansas: 775
6. Rick Barnes, Tennessee: 771
7. Dana Altman, Oregon: 722
8. Kelvin Sampson, Houston: 718
9. Jim Larranaga, Miami (Fla.): 712
10. Rick Pitino, Iona: 697
11. Tom Izzo, Michigan State: 680
12. Mark Few, Gonzaga: 674
13. Greg Kampe, Oakland: 671
14. Steve Alford, Nevada: 651
15. Bruce Pearl, Auburn: 630