AUBURN, Alabama — With the Arkansas Razorbacks hosting the No. 1 college basketball team for the first time since 1991, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl predicts Bud Walton Arena will be “noisy and energetic” Tuesday night for a match against his Tigers. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CST with TV coverage on ESPN2.
The last time the Razorbacks played a home game against a No. 1-ranked team was in 1991 when UNLV visited Barnhill Arena before the move to the 19,200-seat Bud Walton Arena.
“This is a team that beat Georgia by 26, which we beat by two last week,” Pearl said. “Bud Walton will be on fire so we know we have a great opportunity.”
The coach noted that he was happy to have the opportunity to bring the top-ranked team to Fayetteville. “I’m very proud that it’s Auburn,” he said. “You know, it could be Kentucky, it could be Florida, it could be Tennessee, it could be other programs, but it’s Auburn coming in that’s ranked No. 1, and I’m proud of that. . I’m proud of it for our league.
“If Arkansas came to us No. 1, I would be proud of Arkansas for what they were able to do,” added the coach. “I’m proud of them right now for eight straight wins and coming back from a slow start in late December and January, after beating West Virginia in the Big12/SEC Challenge, so I’m proud of our league and I am proud of my team.
Auburn lost its two meetings last season against the Razorbacks. The last time the Tigers won against Arkansas was at Bud Walton on Feb. 4, 2020 when the 11th-ranked visitors beat the Razorbacks 79-76. It was the first of three straight overtime wins for Pearl’s 2019-20 team that finished 5-0 in overtime when the season was cut short before the SEC tournament due to the pandemic.
The 2021-22 Tigers will arrive in Fayetteville with a 22-1 overall record and a 10-0 SEC record, giving AU a two-game conference lead over Kentucky. Jabari Smith, a 6-10 freshman, leads the Tigers with 15.3 points per game. KD Johnson is averaging 13.5 points, SEC Player of the Week Wendell Green is next at 12.9 while Walker Kessler is averaging 11.4 points and team-leading 7.9 rebounds.
The Razorbacks, who are 13-1 at home, are 18-5 overall and 7-3 in the league. Guard JD Notate is averaging 18.7 points per game, guard Au’Diese is next at 10.8 followed by guard Stanley Umude at 10.7 and guard Chris Lykes at 9.4 points. Jaylin Williams, a 6-10, 240 sophomore, is leading the rebounder at 9.1 per game to go with 9.4 points per outing.
“They have the top scorer in Notae,” Pearl said. “They’re probably as tall and as athletic as any team in our league and really big physical guards.
“Right now, statistically, they’re playing as well defensively as anyone in the league. Stanley Umude, his play with Notae and Jaylin Williams, those three guys offensively were really, really good for Arkansas, but the key to their eight-game winning streak was their defense that really held people back.
“They prevent you from managing your offense,” added Pearl. “It is difficult to stay ahead. They do a great transition job. And we’re 5-23 there in Arkansas, but we’ve been competitive there the last few times we’ve been there.
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