AUBURN, Ala. – The postseason is here. Auburn begins play in the SEC Tournament on Thursday and then it's on to the NCAA Tournament next week. At this point in the season, it's all about momentum. What teams will get hot?
Next Game:
Arkansas
March 8, 2023
6 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
Auburn was one of those teams in 2019 when the Tigers won four games in four days to win the SEC Tournament and then carried that momentum into March Madness where they won four more games and advanced to the first Final Four in program history.
This year has seen its share of ups and downs, but Auburn goes into the SEC Tournament with a little momentum after beating No. 12 Tennessee in the regular season finale on Saturday.
"The main thing was just trying to build some momentum," junior Wendell Green Jr. said. "We had two tough losses right before that. Beating the No. 12 team in the country, now we play Arkansas, it's just about momentum and taking it one game at a time. The more you win, the more your confidence goes up. That was a big win for everybody."
"Let's just say we don't win the Tennessee game," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "We're on the bubble. We could be on the outside looking in. We don't have 20 (wins). There are a lot of boxes we don't get to check. Tennessee had just come in and beaten Arkansas pretty good. It was a great win. It's a win a lot of programs wouldn't have gotten. I guarantee I won't take that win for granted. It was back against the wall, everything on the line."
The reward for beating Tennessee? A matchup with Arkansas in the first game of the SEC Tournament on Thursday. The Razorbacks finished 10th in the conference, but they are currently ranked No. 18 in the NET rankings and have Auburn's full attention.
The Tigers have taken it one game at a time all season. That won't change in March.
"We all know about March Madness, but it's one game at a time," Auburn center Johni Broome said. "We've still got a championship we're trying to win. We see Texas A&M is next just looking at the bracket, but obviously, Arkansas is a good team. They're very talented. We're just taking it one game at a time – keep building momentum."
"It will be a tough matchup and all we want," added Pearl.
Auburn and Arkansas will tip off at 6 p.m. CT from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. 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 be televised on SEC Network.
PLAYER TO WATCH: WENDELL GREEN JR.
Wendell Green Jr. poured in a season-high 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and a perfect 6 for 6 from the free throw line in a "must-win" game against Tennessee on Senior Day. It marked his 21st game in double figures this season, and it was the 19th 20-point game of his career. Green, a Second Team All-SEC selection, is one of six Auburn guards over the last 15 years to garner All-SEC honors (First or Second Team). He joins the likes of Samir Doughty, Jared Harper (twice), Bryce Brown (twice), KT Harrell and Chris Denson.
INSIDE THE SERIES: ARKANSAS
Arkansas holds a 37-21 advantage in the all-time series with Auburn, but the Tigers snapped a three-game losing streak in the series by beating the Razorbacks, then ranked No. 13 in the national polls, in the only regular season meeting (W, 72-59) this season on Jan. 7 at Neville Arena. Wendell Green Jr. and Allen Flanigan paced Auburn with 19 and 18 points respectively while Johni Broome recorded a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds).
TIGERS AT THE SEC TOURNAMENT
Auburn is 30-39 (.435) all-time in SEC Tournament games including 7-5 under head coach Bruce Pearl since its renewal in 1979. Overall, Auburn is 34-56 (.278) in tournament games. The last time the Tigers played the SEC Tournament in Nashville, they won four games in four days en route to winning the tournament crown in 2019.
Auburn and Arkansas have met only once before in SEC tournament play. The Razorbacks won 75-67 in the 2000 championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.