AUBURN, Ala. – Taking a two-game lead into the final two weeks of the SEC season, No. 1 Auburn closes its conference schedule with three ranked opponents after Wednesday’s matchup with Ole Miss, which is two spots out of the AP Top 25.
“Making history matters to us,” said Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, who is seeking his third regular season conference championship since 2018 and fifth SEC title overall on the Plains. “We recognize the position we’ve put ourselves in. We also recognize the next four games are going to be challenging.”
Auburn hopes to end the month the way it began – with a victory over the Rebels. In what Pearl described as a “tough, gritty road win,” the Tigers defeated the Rebels 92-82 Feb. 1 in Oxford, Mississippi, behind double-doubles from Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell.
“We take a lot from the first game because you throw your best stuff at them,” Pearl said. “If we play as well as we did in Oxford, we’ll win, but that was one of our best games. We played exceptionally well. I thought both teams played well.”
Auburn made 14 3-pointers in the first meeting, shooting 50 percent from long range, a percentage Pearl would love to see the Tigers duplicate Wednesday at Neville Arena.
“What I’d like to try to do would be let’s take good, open 3-pointers early,” he said. “If you see one or two go in, maybe we can take some tougher ones. We’ve taken some tough early 3-point shots, maybe some shots we could’ve turned down and maybe get betters shots and maybe would result in a better percentage.”
Previewing Wednesday’s rematch, Pearl praised Auburn’s in-state players, forward Chaney Johnson and guard Denver Jones, who began their college careers elsewhere before transferring to the Tigers.
“Both of those guys dreamed that Auburn could be someday possible, but no guarantee,” said Pearl, noting that Johnson graduated from Auburn in December and Jones will do so at the end of the spring semester.
“They’re two of our hardest workers. They’re two of our best teammates. They’ve got the most wonderful family support. They’re Auburn men. They just check off every box.
“They’re both men of faith and family. They’ve been an absolute joy to coach. Unselfish, hard-working, care more about winning and others than they do about themselves.”
Looking to secure its second consecutive series sweep after defeating Georgia Saturday, the top-ranked Tigers (25-2, 13-1) conclude their three-game homestand Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT vs. Ole Miss (19-8, 8-6) at Neville Arena on ESPN2. Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will bring the action to listeners on the Auburn Sports Network.
“There’s a tremendous amount on the line for both clubs,” Pearl said.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer