AUBURN, Ala. – Based on preseason predictions, Wednesday's showdown on the Plains between No. 13 Auburn and No. 11 South Carolina was not supposed to be the marquee matchup it's turned out to be.
Next Game:
vs. No. 11 South Carolina
Feb. 14, 2024
7:30 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
The Gamecocks, picked by SEC and national reporters to finish last in the league, are tied for first and will bring a seven-game winning streak to Neville Arena. Auburn, picked sixth, is just one game back.
It's the first time in the programs' 50 meetings that both teams are nationally ranked, a credit to Auburn's Bruce Pearl and South Carolina's second-year coach Lamont Paris.
"It took me three years to do what's taken you guys 18 months, or a couple years," Pearl intends to tell Paris and his assistants before tipoff. "This is what we work for as coaches, to try to get our programs to be relevant, competitive and elite.
"It would be hard to think of anybody else that would be the coach of the year in our league. He and his staff have done a tremendous job of rebuilding and putting together a really competitive, older, tough, physical roster."
South Carolina leads the SEC in defense, allowing only 64 points per game while Auburn ranks fourth in the league in offense with 82.3 points per game.
"This game will be won with defense and rebounding," Pearl said. "If we want to win the championship, we have to beat South Carolina tomorrow. It's going to be a real challenge because they've only lost three games."
Auburn has won 15 consecutive games at Neville Arena and is the only SEC team that's unbeaten at home this season.
"Being at home gives us that little extra oomph," said forward Chaney Johnson, who came within one point of his first Auburn double-double with nine points at 10 rebounds Saturday at Florida. "It's amazing how many fans show love to the team. It's a blessing to have a fanbase that's behind our players through thick and thin."
"It was great to see Chaney play with such confidence," Pearl said. "Our strength is when everybody contributes. That's when we play best, when we have great balance."
Up next after South Carolina, Auburn hosts No. 22 Kentucky Saturday at 5 p.m. CT after ESPN College GameDay broadcasts from the Plains that morning.
"We've got two great teams at our home court in The Jungle," Auburn center Broome said. "Not a lot of teams have a chance to compete for a championship still. We're right there."
Seeking to defeat the Gamecocks for the seventh straight time, Auburn (19-5, 8-3) hosts South Carolina (21-3, 9-2) Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
"We've worked all spring, summer and fall to get to right here, to right now."
PLAYER TO WATCH: CHAD BAKER-MAZARA
Chad Baker-Mazara has scored in double figures in six of Auburn's 11 SEC games, including three straight prior to scoring six points at Florida on Saturday. He's led the Tigers in scoring twice in SEC play – scoring 16 points at Arkansas and 19 points against LSU. He's averaging 10.4 points per game on 43.5 percent shooting in the last 13 games and currently ranks fifth in the SEC shooting 86.1 percent (68-of-79) from the foul line this season.
INSIDE THE SERIES: SOUTH CAROLINA
Auburn leads the series against South Carolina 30-19 all-time, including 13-8 in games played in Auburn and 6-1 at Neville Arena. The Tigers have won six straight over the Gamecocks with the last five wins coming by double digits. Wednesday's matchup between No. 13 Auburn No. 11 South Carolina is the first matchup between ranked teams in series history.
This will be the ninth time Bruce Pearl has coached a ranked Auburn team against South Carolina. The Tigers have gone 6-2 in the previous eight games, including 3-0 at Neville Arena. Pearl is 0-2 against ranked South Carolina squads at Auburn.
NOTABLE
» With seven games remaining in league play, Auburn (8-3) is one game back of South Carolina and Alabama (9-2) for first place in the SEC. The Gamecocks have won seven consecutive games, the longest current win streak in the conference.
» Auburn is the only remaining SEC team that is unbeaten at home with a perfect 12-0 mark at Neville Arena this season. The Tigers currently own a 15-game home winning streak, which is tied with High Point for the eighth-longest streak nationally.
» Auburn is in the midst of playing three ranked teams in a four-game stretch. The Tigers defeated No. 16 Alabama last week and will have back-to-back home games against No. 11 South Carolina and No. 22 Kentucky on Wednesday and Saturday.
» In five SEC home games this season, Auburn has been led by Jaylin Williams (18.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Johni Broome (16.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.0 bpg). The two have been on fire from the field, shooting a combined 60.2 percent from the field and 61.9 percent from deep.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer