AUBURN, Ala. – For years, the ACC was the premier conference in college basketball. SEC basketball has been on the rise in recent years and has a chance to make a statement against the ACC this week in the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge.
Next Game:
vs. Virginia Tech
Nov. 29, 2023
8:15 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
Auburn will look to do its part for the SEC at home against Virginia Tech on Wednesday night.
"This is the first time they've done the ACC/SEC Challenge, so I'm blessed that my last year we get to (play in it) at home," senior forward Jaylin Williams said. "Hopefully we represent the SEC well by getting a W and competing at the highest level. It's a chance to let everybody know that we're here and that we're a great team."
"I'm excited about the Challenge," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "The Challenge matters. I think it's great for college basketball, and I know it's really great for the selection committee to determine how many teams from the SEC go, how many teams from the ACC go, and who the stronger conferences are. This will be somewhat of an indicator."
Both Auburn and Virginia Tech come into the contest playing at a high level. The Tigers have won four straight since dropping the opener against Baylor and beat another ACC team in Notre Dame on their way to winning the Legends Classic in New York. The Hokies are 5-2 and reached the championship game of the ESPN Events Invitational last week.
It will be the first meeting between the two sides in 24 years.
For Auburn, there's also a streak on the line as the Tigers have won 47 consecutive non-conference home games in Neville Arena.
"These matchups, they matter to me," added Pearl. "I want to represent our league well. We still own the best non-conference record in the SEC over the last seven years. This game obviously matters historically as well."
Auburn and Virginia Tech will tip off at 8:15 p.m. CT from Neville Arena. Andy Burcham and Sonny Smith will have the radio call on 94.3 FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the Auburn app. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
PLAYER TO WATCH: CHANEY JOHNSON
Junior forward Chaney Johnson led four players in double figures with a season-high 15 points off the bench in last week's 84-54 win over Alabama A&M. Johnson became the ninth different Tigers to have double figures scoring in a game this season. He added four rebounds, two steals and one block to help Auburn secure its fourth straight victory.
Johnson played on the same AAU team as Virginia Tech center Lynn Kidd.
INSIDE THE SERIES: VIRGINIA TECH
This is the ninth all-time meeting between Auburn and Virginia Tech but the first in 24 years. The Tigers hold a 6-2 advantage versus the Hokies, including a 76-74 victory in 1973 in their only previous home game in the series. Both of Virginia Tech's wins came in Blacksburg. Five of the previous eight meetings have been decided by six points or less.
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD
Auburn is averaging 82.4 points per game this season. It is the fifth time under Bruce Pearl that the Tigers have averaged at least 80.0 points per game through the first five games of a season. Nine Tigers have scored in double figures in at least one game this season.
SHARING THE ROCK
Auburn ranks No. 7 nationally and is tied for first in the SEC with Kentucky with 20.0 assists per game. The Tigers are one of five NCAA Division I teams to have at least 18 assists in five games this season. Aden Holloway is tied for seventh in the SEC with a team-leading 3.8 assists per game while Tre Donaldson is 13th in the league at 3.2 per contest.
Teams with 18+ assists in five games this season
Auburn
BYU
Connecticut
Kansas
TCU