The No. 8 Auburn Tigers (16-3, 5-1 SEC) take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs (13-6, 2-4 SEC) on the road at Humphrey Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
Auburn will be looking to bounce back after falling 79-75 at the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide on the road Wednesday night. Mississippi State will also be looking to bounce back after a 79-70 road loss to the Florida Gators on Wednesday night.
What are the biggest things to watch for during the game?
Which team will win the rebounding battle?
Both Auburn and Mississippi State average 39.2 rebounds per game, which has the team tied at No. 5 in the SEC.
This game has the potential to be decided on the glass. The team that is able to rebound more efficiently will have a good chance of coming out on top.
What will Auburn do from 3-point range?
Auburn is shooting 33.1% from 3-point range as a team this season. The Tigers are capable of shooting better consistently as they have shown throughout the season, but the team has struggled to put two good games from beyond the arc together.
Auburn shot 44.4% from 3-point range against Ole Miss but 20% against Alabama.
The Tigers do not solely depend on the 3-point shot, but it certainly helps when they are falling.
What Mississippi State players could create problems for Auburn?
Two Bulldogs to keep an eye on are Josh Hubbard and Tolu Smith.
Hubbard, a 5-foot-10 freshman guard from Madison, Miss., averages 14.8 points per game and is shooting 39.3% from the field.
Smith, a senior forward from Bay Saint Louis, Miss., leads the Bulldogs in scoring and rebounding, averaging 18.3 and eight per game respectively. Smith missed the beginning of the season due to an injury but has wasted no time making an impact since his return.
Will the environment throw Auburn off?
Auburn played in a tough environment on Wednesday, but it will have to step into another today.
Will the Tigers adjust better now that they have another game in front of a hostile crowd under their belt?
Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT. The television broadcast can be found on SEC Network, and the Auburn Sports Network broadcast can be streamed anywhere on the Auburn Athletics App.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.locke@1819news.com.
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