AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn coaching staff took notes Thursday afternoon at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena when fifth-seeded South Carolina played No. 12 seed Arkansas, knowing the Tigers would tip off 24 hours later versus the victors.
Next Game:
vs. South Carolina
March 5, 2024
2:30 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
After earning a double bye into the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, fourth-seeded Auburn went to the Music City with the goal of winning three games in three days and cutting down the nets as conference champions on Sunday afternoon.
"We'd love to spend the weekend there," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "And we'd love to work on the weekend."
Without an opponent for whom to prepare, the Tigers focused inward during this week's practices on the Plains.
"We've been on it," said All-SEC Second Team forward Jaylin Williams. "We're doing every drill we have, everyone's trying to get on the same page. We're trying to be champions."
Williams was one of three Tigers to earn conference recognition. Johni Broome was named to the All-SEC First Team and the SEC All-Defensive Team while point guard Aden Holloway earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
"It's a big opportunity in Nashville," Holloway said. "Not losing a game for the rest of the season. That's where our mindset is going into this postseason, to get us two championships to finish out the season."
Auburn finished in a four-way tie for second place in the SEC one game behind regular season champ Tennessee, going 13-5 in conference play and winning by double digits in all 24 of its victories.
"When you are playing your best basketball down the stretch, that does matter," Pearl said. "We've played some pretty good basketball down the stretch so we're in position.
"You have to have depth because it's three games in three days. Get hot at the right time, knowing that you're fighting for something. Experience matters too. Cream rises to the top at the end of the year. Everybody is going into March with something to prove."
Ranked No. 12 nationally after winning three straight games and going 4-1 at neutral sites this season, Auburn plays South Carolina in Friday's second game, at approximately 2:40 p.m. CT.
"Physicality and remaining unselfish will be the two keys to our ability to continue to advance in postseason play," Pearl said.
Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will bring the action to fans on the Auburn Sports Network.
"It's step up time," Pearl said. "If you step up, you stay. If you don't, you go home."
PLAYER TO WATCH: JOHNI BROOME
This week, junior big man Johni Broome became the 14th player to be named an All-American in the 118-year history of Auburn Basketball. He earned a spot on The Sporting News All-America Third Team. He joined a short list of Auburn Basketball greats to be honored: Charles Barkley, Lee DeFore, Rex Frederick, Henry Hart, Walker Kessler, John Mengelt (twice), Mike Mitchell, Chuck Person (twice), Wesley Person, Chris Porter, Doc Robinson, Jabari Smith and Jack Stewart.
A two-time All-SEC player (First Team in 2023-24; Second Team in 2022-23), SEC All-Defensive Team selection and a finalist for the John R. Wooden National Player of the Year Award, Broome is the only player currently ranked among the SEC's top 10 in scoring (9th, 16.3 ppg) and rebounding (2nd, 8.5 rpg). He's scored in double figures in 22 straight games coming into the SEC Tournament.
INSIDE THE SERIES: SOUTH CAROLINA
Auburn leads 31-19 in the all-time series with South Carolina and has won seven straight meetings, including a 101-61 victory over the Gamecocks last month. Jaylin Williams and Johni Broome each scored 20-plus points and combined to shoot 9-of-12 from beyond the arc. This will be the fifth all-time matchup between Auburn and South Carolina in SEC Tournament play.
TIGERS IN THE SEC TOURNAMENT
Auburn is 34-57 (.374) all-time in SEC Tournament play. Last season, the Tigers were the No. 7 seed and lost a 76-73 decision to No. 10 seed Arkansas in the second round at Bridgestone Arena.
Bridgestone Arena was the scene for two of Auburn's most memorable SEC Tournament runs ever. In 2015, Bruce Pearl's first season on The Plains, the Tigers advanced to the semifinals with wins over Mississippi State, Texas A&M and LSU before falling to No. 1 Kentucky. In 2019, Auburn won four games in four days to claim the program's second tournament title and first since 1985.
SEC LEGEND: CLIFF ELLIS
Cliff Ellis, who coached Auburn for 10 seasons from 1994-2004, will be honored as one of 14 former greats from all Southeastern Conference member institutions, as part of SEC Men's Legends Presented by Allstate® at the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament. Ellis will be recognized during halftime of Auburn's first game of the tournament Friday.
Ellis ranks third all-time in career coaching wins at Auburn with a 186-125 record. He led the Tigers to a 14-2 record in league play enroute to the 1999 SEC regular-season championship title. His teams also made three NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2000 and 2003) including two Sweet 16 appearances in 1999 and 2003 (lost to eventual champion Syracuse).
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer