AUBURN, Alabama – As Auburn looks to go undefeated in the Southeastern Conference game with a tough rivalry road basketball game Tuesday night against Alabama, coach Bruce Pearl predicts his fourth-placed Tigers will have their hands full against Tide.
“It will absolutely be our biggest challenge this year,” Pearl said of the defending SEC champions at Coleman Coliseum.
Tipoff is set at 8 p.m. CST with TV coverage on ESPN. The Tigers enter the game 14-1 on aggregate and 3-0 in the SEC on an 11-game winning streak. Auburn is ranked # 4 in this week’s AP and USA today Top 25 coaches in the polls. The Tide are 11-4 overall and 2-1 in the SEC after losing to Missouri on Saturday. He is ranked No. 24 in the AP Top 25 and No. 25, according to the coaches.
Auburn will have to do a good job preventing Tide from scoring Second Chance points. “Florida gave Alabama 20 offensive rebounds, and Alabama had a great second-half comeback in Florida,” said Pearl. ” Nice victory. One of the best wins in the league to date.
“Keep that in mind, Alabama has the tightest schedule of any team in the country,” Auburn coach said. “Alabama have two of the best wins in college basketball, beating Gonzaga in Seattle and beating Houston. They do a great job of long shots, long rebounds, and so they might not have all 50- 50 balls, but we have to do a good job to bounce the basketball.
“Obviously, taking care of the basketball,” said Pearl, will be another key to winning at Tuscaloosa. “To come back in transition because Alabama drops that ball to the ground, do or miss, and anyone in our league. They do a great job playing fast.
Pearl said the athletic abilities of Tide’s guards will put his team to the test.
“You can’t stay ahead of them,” the coach said. “(Jahvon) Quinerly is probably the best point guard in the league. It’s a very, very difficult blanket. He can score from two. He can score from three. He’s a great passer, incredible hands, a great athlete.
“(Jaden) Shackelford might be the best shot in the league and he can take some tough shots. JD (Davison) is one of the best young guards in the league and he can play and score at all levels.
“(Keon) Ellis, when you put his offense, his defense, his ability to go down and everything together, he plays just as well as anyone,” Pearl pointed out. “It’s arguably a combination of four of the best goalies from one team.”
Alabama scores 82.5 points per game, which ranks them second in the SEC, just behind Kentucky. The Tide is allowing 74 points per game.
Commenting on the Alabama defense, Pearl said, “Their guards can sue you. (Charles) Bediako protects inside. (Juwan) Gary is physical. I love (Noah) Gurley. We tried to recruit Gurley from Auburn and Noah really came out on top. He is averaging 11 (points) and six (rebounds) in the SEC game. He’s not Herb Jones, but he does things like Herb Jones. They do a great job with their bulletproof defense, they hit you.
“Obviously, they are known for their attack because of their dangerousness at three and on the edge, but they can also defend themselves. “
*** Subscribe: get the latest news and scoops from Auburn ***