AUBURN—It’s been a week of good and bad news for the newly ranked No. 1 Auburn Tigers.
The Tigers now sit atop the college basketball world for just the second time in program history, as they rose to No. 1 in the latest Top 25 AP Poll, released on Monday.
“With us being ranked number one in the country, I think it's deserving, considering the schedule that we played, the teams that we beat, the great teams that we've beaten, and the job this team has done,” said Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl.
Though Pearl's Tigers are making history – being one of four teams to be ranked No .1 in at least two of the last four seasons, along with Purdue, Kansas and Houston – they will start this week’s challenging task of taking on No.15 Mississippi State on Tuesday without one the nation’s best players in Johni Broome.
Broome suffered an ankle sprain in the second half of Auburn’s 66-63 win over South Carolina. Pearl stated on Monday that there was no tentative timeline for his return and reiterated that he would not be available against the Georgia Bulldogs on Tuesday.
After Broome went down on Saturday, nearly six minutes into the second half, it was Tahaad Pettiford and Miles Kelly who carried the load offensively with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
The Tigers will need to be another group effort for the Tigers on Tuesday, especially from the likes of Chad Baker-Mazara, Denver Jones and Chaney Johnson.
“I have confidence that all our guys can step up their scoring,” Pearl said. “I think everybody has an opportunity. We have enough talent to be able to have everybody do a little bit more. I think that's the best way to approach his (Broome) loss.”
Coming off a 95-90 loss to No. 6 Kentucky, the Bulldogs (14-2) are led by sophomore guard Josh Hubbard, averaging 17 points per game, and draining 50 3-pointers – second in the SEC – on a 37.3% clip. Joining him in double figures is senior guard Claudell Harris at 11.2 ppg. KeShawn Murphey, Riley Kugel and RJ Melendez are just below the double-digit threshold, though each average at least nine points per game.
“Mississippi State is the best team we've played so far at home, by far. Obviously great, great guard in Josh Hubbard. Matthews has been one of the best players in the league for a long, time. The thing that makes this team different from last year's team is they’re just dynamic offensively,” Pearl said.
Chris Jans’ Bulldogs boast a well-rounded approach, as they are top 10 nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.81), steals per game (10.1) and fewest turnovers (9.4 tpg). Though they play at a faster pace this season than they have in the past, the Bulldogs still remain one of the SEC’s most physical teams down low. For Auburn, matching the physicality, yet staying out of foul trouble – especially without Broome – will be crucial.
“Stay down on the shot fake, just stay down,” Pearl said on what Dylan Cardwell and Johnson defending without fouling. “They both play aggressively and both play physically, but they both have got to be smart about… they can’t afford any unnecessary fouls.”Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday and will be televised on SECN.
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