AUBURN, Ala. – Bruce Pearl approaches Saturday’s history-making rivalry clash with the same intensity he’s brought all season long to No. 1 Auburn’s previous 24 games.
“There’s a lot at stake. There’s a lot riding on it,” said Pearl, noting the historical significance of the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in SEC history. “The preparation won’t be any different than any other opponent. This is what we do, this is how we go about it, and it’s been pretty successful so far.”
That’s an understatement. The top-ranked Tigers lead the nation with 13 Quad-1 wins, five more than SEC counterparts Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. Auburn and Alabama share the top spot in the SEC standings, two games clear of Florida and Texas A&M.
“Alabama had a great postseason run last year but this year’s team team is much better than last year’s Final Four team,” Pearl said. “They are a great offensive team. We know going there, we’re going to have to have our best game of the year, our best effort of the year.”
Pearl has previously coached in a matchup of this magnitude, leading No. 2 Tennessee to a 66-62 victory at No. 1 Memphis in February 2008.
“It was 1 vs. 2 in Memphis, Tennessee, and two teams from Tennessee,” Pearl recalled. “It’s very similar now. This game is in the state of Alabama. That’s very significant.”
It’s significant for Auburn’s in-state players, Denver Jones and Chaney Johnson.
“It’s just going to be a great environment,” said Jones, a Huntsville native. “It’s a blessing to be able to play in a 1 vs. 2 matchup. We’ve played in a lot of hostile environments. I feel like it’s prepared us.”
“It’s a blessing,” said Johnson, a native of Alabaster, Alabama. “It’s going to be a big game. Not in my wildest imagination did I ever think I would be playing 1 vs. 2 against Alabama.”
Throughout the season, Pearl has pointed to the importance of defense and rebounding, two keys to winning in Tuscaloosa.
“When we are locked in, flying around and engaged defensively, we can be pretty good,” Pearl said. “When we are sitting back on our heels and not defending as physically, as intensely and as alertly, we’re vulnerable.”
Auburn’s veteran roster, says Pearl, positions the Tigers for success away from Neville Arena, along with a boost from “witnesses” – as BP refers to Auburn fans at away games.
“We’ve got older guys and so we’ve ben good on the road because we’ve got some experience,” he said. “In the non-conference, taking them to Houston, taking them to Duke, provided us with great challenges where we had to maintain our composure.
“We don’t have any road games in the SEC. They’re all neutral site games for us because the Auburn family travels. We’re going to have people up in Tuscaloosa. If we give them something to cheer about, I know we’re going to hear from them.”
Intent on continuing to make history, No. 1 Auburn (22-2, 10-1) visits No. 2 Alabama (21-3,10-1) Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will provide play-by-play and analysis for listeners on the Auburn Sports Network.
“Our guys have handled the moment,” Pearl said. “I don’t think that’ll be an issue. Our guys respect Alabama; they’re not afraid of them.”
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer