AUBURN, Ala. – With Auburn's next victory, Jaylin Williams will become the winningest player in program history, an honor he hopes to secure Friday vs. Southeastern Louisiana in Tipoff on The Plains at Neville Arena.
Next Game:
vs. Southeastern Louisiana
Nov. 10, 2023
7 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"It's going to be special," said Williams, who shares the program lead of 87 victories with Allen Flanigan, Anfernee McLemore and Scott Pohlman. "Hopefully we win a lot of games this season so no one in the next century can beat it.
"It's special to represent the last name on the back of my jersey and my family. Being able to share that with BP (Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl) and all the coaching staff and all the players who have helped me be successful at Auburn. I want to thank all of them as well because if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be in this position."
After opening the season Tuesday vs. No. 20 Baylor in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Tigers are eager to play their home opener and introduce new teammates to The Jungle.
"It's very exciting," said Williams, a fifth-year forward. "Playing in front of the Jungle is going to be amazing for guys like Chad (Baker-Mazara). They played the exhibition there but it wasn't as packed as it's going to be Friday.
"We're playing a good team. BP's always going to schedule quality opponents. The fans might not know this team as well but they're very talented. It's going to be really good competition."
Against Baylor, the Tigers led by nine points at halftime but the Bears overtook Auburn down the stretch to win 88-82. Freshman point guard Aden Holloway led Auburn with 19 points and six assists. Johni Broome scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Denver Jones added 13 points in his orange and blue debut.
"Offensively, we've got all the keys," said Williams, who earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology in May. "We got a bunch of layups. I missed a few floaters which I hardly ever miss. Offensively, we were there.
"Defensively, we've got to play together, rotate together and stick together. It was the first game. We learned from it and we're going to pick it up throughout the year."
The Tigers and Lions tip off Friday at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. Andy Burcham and Sonny Smith will have the call, a potentially history-making one for the player teammates call J-Will, on the Auburn Sports Network.
PLAYER TO WATCH: DENVER JONES
Junior guard Denver Jones scored 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range against No. 17 Baylor in his Auburn debut on Tuesday. He scored 953 points and made 108 3-pointers on 35.9 percent shooting from long range in two seasons prior at FIU. He is 34 points away from recording his 1,000th career point with 966 points to date.
INSIDE THE SERIES: SE LOUISIANA
Auburn leads 4-0 in the all-time series with Southeastern Louisiana – all four victories coming in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. The teams last met on New Year's Eve in 2008 with the Tigers prevailing, 77-65.
The first game in the series was Auburn's season opener in 1998-99, and the Tigers won 114-60 on their way to winning the program's second ever SEC regular-season title. Auburn also defeated the Lions in 2002 (77-47) and in 2005 (66-51).
FRESHMAN PHENOM
Freshman guard Aden Holloway led Auburn with 19 points and six assists in 26 minutes of play vs. No. 20 Baylor in his collegiate debut Tuesday. He made a team-high four 3-pointers on eight attempts against the Bears and finished one point shy of becoming the fourth freshman in program history to score 20 points in a debut. His total of 19 points is tied for fifth among all Division I freshmen in a season opener this season.
Freshmen to score 20 in debut
- Sharife Cooper: 26 (2020 vs. Alabama)
- Eddie Johnson: 26 (1973 vs. Clemson)
- Jay Heard: 20 (1998 vs. SE Louisiana)
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Friday night will be the home opener for Auburn. The Tigers have won 45 consecutive non-conference home games at Neville Arena including a 7-0 mark last year with win over George Mason, USF, Winthrop, Texas Southern, Saint Louis, Colgate and Georgia State. The streak dates back to 2015 and began with a 92-62 win over Georgia Southern.