AUBURN, Ala. – Riding a nine-game win streak, tied atop the SEC standings and climbing ever so closer to the top 10, No. 13 Auburn relies on Bruce Pearl's time-tested strategy to remain – as the head coach says often – humble and hungry.
Next Game:
at Vanderbilt
Jan. 17, 2024
8 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"Not too high, not too low," said point guard Tre Donaldson, who leads Auburn with 58 assists. "Understanding that we're a good team but we have a long way to go. We're playing good basketball right now but we could be so much better if we clean up the little things."
While fans might point to Vanderbilt's struggles and conclude the Tigers have a smooth path to victory, Pearl considers other factors: a coach he admires, a player he esteems and a series history he respects.
On Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse: "He's one of the best offensive coaches in the country because he was a pro. Jerry Stackhouse could coach in the NBA right now and be very successful. He was as tough a player as there was on the floor. Everybody was afraid of Jerry Stackhouse because he was physical, tough and he would take your head off. He coaches that way. He competes that way. That stuff wins."
On Vanderbilt guard Ezra Manion, whose last-second layup led the Commodores to a 67-65 win over Auburn last season in Nashville: "The fastest, quickest, most athletic, smallest guard that we'll play against all year long. He is the best undersized guard I think I've ever seen score over size. He is going to go downhill, and he is going to find a way to score with either hand at a decent percentage."
On Auburn's historic difficulty in winning vs. Vandy: "Knowing that last year we went there and got beat. Prior to us having won five out of the last six, we had lost 13 straight to Vanderbilt. That's just not that long ago."
On Vandy's close calls this season: "All I can do is see them in a two-point loss at Memphis and being in a last possession or two game against Alabama."
One of only two SEC teams to survive unscathed through the first three conference games, Pearl expects Vanderbilt to be the first of several close games in an upcoming stretch that features Ole Miss at home Saturday, Alabama on the road next Wednesday and at Mississippi State on Jan. 27.
"I would anticipate all four of them being much closer and us being involved in situations that we've hardly been involved in this year, so those are the kind of things we're preparing for," said Pearl, whose team has won by double digits in each game during its win streak. "Obviously we have a lot to play for."
Seeking its 10th straight win, Auburn (14-2, 3-0) plays Vanderbilt (5-11, 0-3) Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT at Nashvilles' Memorial Gymnasium on SEC Network. Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will call the game on the Auburn Sports Network.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
PLAYER TO WATCH: CHAD BAKER-MAZARA
Junior Chad Baker-Mazara has scored in double figures of two of Auburn's three SEC games and four of the last five games overall. He poured in a game-high 19 points along with a career-best five steals in the team's win over LSU on Saturday, and after going 6-of-6 from the foul line, he ranks second in the SEC shooting 88.7 percent from the charity stripe this season.
Baker-Mazara has averaged 13.2 points in Auburn's last five contests and has led the Tigers in scoring twice in their three SEC games, registering 16 points at Arkansas in his conference debut on Jan. 6 and 19 points vs. LSU on Saturday.
INSIDE THE SERIES: VANDERBILT
Vanderbilt holds a 90-56 advantage in the all-time series with Auburn and won the only matchup between the two teams last season, 67-65, at Memorial Gymnasium. However, the Tigers had won five consecutive games in the series prior last year, a streak that began in 2018. Three of the last four meetings in the series have been decided by six points or less.
Prior to 2018, Vanderbilt had won 13 straight games in the series, which tied the longest winning streak by either team in series history. The Commodores lead 52-19 all-time in games played at Vanderbilt including a 39-15 advantage in Memorial Gymnasium.
FAMILIAR FACES
Auburn will face Vanderbilt for the 147th time on Wednesday night, making the Commodores the sixth-most played opponent in program history.
| Team | Record | Games |
| Georgia | 100-97 | 197 |
| Florida | 91-82 | 173 |
| Alabama | 65-101 | 166 |
| LSU | 71-87 | 158 |
| Mississippi State | 81-70 | 151 |
| Vanderbilt | 56-90 | 146 |
MAKING EVERY SHOT COUNT
After recording a season high for free throws made by going 27-of-31 against LSU, Auburn is now shooting 81 percent (169-of-209) from the charity stripe during its current nine-game winning streak. The hot streak has moved the Tigers up to fourth in the SEC with a 75.5 free throw percentage for the season.
Auburn has also seen an uptick in its shooting from the floor over its nine-game winning streak with a 48.6 percent field-goal percentage during the streak compared to 44.4 percent in the first seven games. The Tigers shot a season-best 56.1 percent against Chattanooga.