AUBURN, Ala. – With its baseline benches, Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium has been a most unwelcoming venue for Auburn over the years. That is until Bruce Pearl arrived on the Plains.
Next Game:
at Vanderbilt
Feb. 18, 2023
7:30 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"It's been a tough place, historically," said Pearl, who has led Auburn to five straight victories vs. Vandy. "It's different. Can you imagine coaching a football game from behind the end zone?"
Auburn's record in Nashville is 18-50, including the Tigers' victories in 2019 and 2021.
Add to the series history and unorthodox arena layout the sophisticated offensive system of former NBA standout Jerry Stackhouse, Vandy's four-game SEC win streak and the Commodores' imposing 7-foot rim protector Liam Robbins, and you get the makings of a supreme challenge.
"[Coach] Stackhouse is going to run a great offense," Auburn senior Allen Flanigan said. "Guys who can shoot the ball and move the ball at a high frequency kind of like an NBA offense. We've got to be down in our stance, play aggressive and be the first ones to hit."
While the Commodores have won four consecutive SEC games for the first time in six years, Auburn carries momentum to Nashville as well, following Tuesday's 89-56 victory over Missouri.
"Let's see if we can keep it going," Pearl said. "I've never seen the league quite this competitive. So many good teams."
With five games remaining before the SEC Tournament, Auburn and Kentucky are tied for fourth place in the conference standings at 8-5 with Vanderbilt, Florida and Missouri all one game back at 7-6.
K.D. Johnson sparked Auburn against Missouri, scoring 14 first-half points while making 4 of 5 3-pointers to reach double figures for the fifth time in six games.
"It's been good to have K.D. be a sparkplug off the bench," Pearl said. "Playing better and playing with more confidence offensively. It was great to see the ball go in for him."
Auburn outrebounded Missouri 48-26, leading to a 17-8 advantage in second-chance points.
"The only teams that can beat us are the teams that beat us on the boards," said Dylan Cardwell, who grabbed 10 rebounds in 17 minutes vs. Missouri. "That's been a very big emphasis for us, to win the battle on the boards."
The Tigers anticipate seeing a sizable contingent of orange-and-blue clad fans Saturday thanks to the Greater Nashville Auburn Club and other "witnesses" – as Pearl calls them – who plan to road trip to the Music City for the weekend.
Auburn and Vanderbilt tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT Saturday on SEC Network and the Auburn Spots Network.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: DYLAN CARDWELL AND JOHNI BROOME
Junior center Dylan Cardwell and sophomore forward Johni Broome combined for 28 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks in Tuesday's win over Missouri. With 42 points in the paint as a team, it was the ninth time this season the Tigers have scored 40 or more points in the paint. Cardwell, who matched his career high on the glass with 10 rebounds, and Broome became just the second Auburn duo to grab 10 or more rebounds in the same game this season. Broome and Allen Flanigan (11 and 10) did it at South Carolina.
INSIDE THE SERIES: VANDERBILT
Vanderbilt leads 89-56 in the all-time series with Auburn and is 50-18 when playing at home in Memorial Gymnasium. However, the Tigers have won the last five meetings, capturing rare road wins during the 2020-21 season (73-67) and the 2018-19 season (64-53). Prior to the win in 2019, Auburn had not won at Vanderbilt since the 1999-2000 season.
Head coach Bruce Pearl is 13-8 against the Commodores in his career and 3-0 against current Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse.
NOTABLE
» With its 33-point win over Missouri on Tuesday, Auburn climbed nine spots to No. 26 in the latest NET rankings. Vanderbilt is No. 89. It was the largest margin of victory for the Tigers in an SEC game since a 92-58 (+34) win vs. Missouri on Jan. 30, 2019.
» At 8-5 in SEC play, the Tigers are currently tied for fourth in the latest conference standings with Kentucky. They have Vandy, Ole Miss, UK, Alabama and Tennessee left on their slate – playing three of those last five games on the road.
» K.D. Johnson has provided a spark off the bench scoring in double figures in five of the team's last six contests, including 15 points against Missouri.
» Wendell Green Jr. had his third "perfect game" this season with no turnovers Tuesday night. He dished out nine assists and had zero miscues against Missouri. Over the last three games, Green boasts an impressive 4.25 assist-to-turnover ratio (17-to-4).