The No. 16 Auburn Tigers return to Neville Arena on Tuesday night for their SEC home opener against the Texas A&M Aggies.
The Aggies have had the Tigers' number over the past few years, having won five of the last six matchups and ending two lengthy home-winning streaks that Auburn had going during that time.
What are the biggest things to pay attention to during the game?
Can Auburn stop Wade Taylor IV?
Texas A&M has a skilled scorer in junior point guard Wade Taylor IV. The 6-foot Dallas native leads the Aggies in scoring with 18 points per game.
Taylor played a vital role in Texas A&M's success in both wins against Auburn last season. He scored 15 points in the Aggies road win over Auburn, ending the Tigers' 28-game winning streak at home. He scored 22 points when the Aggies beat Auburn at home two weeks later.
If Auburn can limit Taylor's scoring, it will put itself in a decent position to pick up the win.
Can Auburn keep up its recent success from 3-point range?
Auburn has had great success from beyond the arc during its seven-game winning streak.
If the Tigers can get the 3-point baskets to fall as they did in their blowout win over Arkansas on the road, they could make a lot of noise tonight, extend their winning streak to eight games, and snap its three-game skid against the Aggies.
The game will likely be won on the glass
Both teams have rebounded well this season, but Texas A&M has a slight advantage in the category.
The matchup to watch will be Auburn forward Johni Broome and Texas A&M forward Henry Coleman III. Whichever team's leading rebounder comes through at a higher rate will have a better chance of coming away with the win.
How much of an impact will home-court advantage play?
Neville Arena has gained a reputation as one of the country's toughest places to play, mainly due to Auburn's passionate student section.
However, the crowd could be down with the game beginning late the night before classes start.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT, and ESPN2 will carry the television broadcast. The Auburn Sports Network broadcast can be streamed anywhere through the Auburn Athletics App.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.locke@1819news.com.
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