AUBURN, Ala. – Last year, when Auburn hosted Alabama, the Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the country. The Jungle camped out prior to the game. The atmosphere was electric. And Auburn put up a 100 spot on its in-state rival to run away with the win.
Next Game:
Alabama
Feb. 11, 2023
1 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
This year, as the two sides get ready to meet again, it's Alabama who is ranked in the top five. The Crimson Tide are ranked No. 3 in the latest AP Poll.
Auburn recently dropped out of the poll after spending the entire season in the Top 25, but head coach Bruce Pearl is not concerned. Sure, the Tigers have lost three out of their last four. But the three losses came on the road at West Virginia, at Tennessee and at Texas A&M, and they put themselves in a position to win at the end in all three.
Called a "desperate team" by one ESPN commentator this week, Pearl doesn't see it that way.
"We've got opportunities in front of us," he said. "It depends on what your perspective is. I don't feel desperate. I feel like I've got a really good team that's playing really hard that is competing every night, and we're giving ourselves a chance. I don't feel desperate.
"We've got to continue to do what we're doing and put ourselves in position to win, and that's what we've done so far. That's what I hope to do on Saturday."
"I just feel like we're hungry," added sophomore big man Johni Broome. "We've lost three out of our last four, but we've been right there. They're all winnable games. I feel like we're hungry to come out here and play together, play better, take care of the basketball a little bit more and start winning."
Regardless of whether Auburn is ranked No. 1 or not ranked at all, the crowd will show up.
Saturday is no different. It's a rivalry game. College GameDay is in town. It's the AUTLIVE Cancer game. Neville Arena will be rocking and ready to go come tip off.
"I know the atmosphere in the Jungle is going to be crazy," Broome said. "Like it always is. Obviously, it's going to be a little bit more rowdy for this game. The players haven't really said too much about it. It is what it is. You expect what you're going to get. Alabama vs. Auburn. That's going to go down in the history books always.
"I love rivalry games. I feel like it brings the best out of me."
Auburn and Alabama will tip off at 1 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 ESPN.
PLAYER TO WATCH: WENDELL GREEN JR.
With six assists on Tuesday at Texas A&M, Wendell Green Jr. reached 100 assists for the third straight season. The junior point guard also finished with a team-high 20 points against the Aggies. It was his fourth 20-point game of the season and 16th of his career. Auburn is 3-1 this season when Green scores 20 or more points. He has scored in double figures in all but six of Auburn's 24 games this season and currently leads the team with 13.9 points per game.
INSIDE THE SERIES: ALABAMA
Alabama leads 99-65 in the all-time series with Auburn. However, the Tigers own a two-game win streak after sweeping the Crimson Tide in conference play last year. Auburn picked up an 81-77 win in Tuscaloosa behind 25 points from Jabari Smith and then reached the century mark against the Tide at home, winning 100-81.
With the win at Neville Arena last year, the Tigers improved to 33-28 in the rivalry series when the game is played on their home court.
AUTLIVE
The Bruce Pearl Family Foundation is continuing the fight against cancer with the eighth year of AUTLIVE, Auburn basketball's fight against cancer. The best way to beat cancer is to detect it early and be able to fight it on your home court.
AUTLIVE raises the awareness of cancer prevention and detection while t-shirt sales and donations raise money to benefit cancer patients and their local hospitals. Both teams and game officials will hold up placards before tipoff in memory of loved ones, friends and colleagues, who are still fighting or have lost their battle with cancer.
For the third year, prostate cancer screenings will take place on the concourse of Neville Arena before and during the game for men who wish to be tested.
Visit AUTLIVE.com for more information or to donate to the cause.