Auburn University’s men’s basketball team will begin its Southeastern Conference (SEC) schedule this Saturday with an away game against No. 23 Georgia. The Tigers, last year’s league champions, face a conference landscape featuring six SEC teams ranked in the top 25 but none in the top 10.
“It is very wide open,” said Auburn guard Kevin Overton, who currently averages 12.5 points per game. “I think it’s all there for us.”
The matchup at Stegeman Coliseum marks Auburn’s sixth game this season against a ranked opponent. Head coach Steven Pearl emphasized the need for discipline and teamwork as they approach conference play.
“We’ve got to play with purpose, play under control,” Pearl said. “They’re going to try to speed you up with their pressure and their press. We’ve got to build off what we did in the last game as far as sharing the ball with one another.”
In their most recent outing, Auburn defeated Queens 106-65, registering 22 assists—including a career-high nine from Tahaad Pettiford.
“If we can do that, that’ll give us an opportunity and a chance to beat a really good team in our first SEC game,” Pearl said.
Auburn has played four teams currently ranked among the nation’s top eight and three of the top five so far this season, resulting in what is considered the country’s eighth-toughest schedule.
“We had to be pretty locked in for our non-conference slate to survive it,” Pearl said. “That’s the benefit of playing a tough schedule, you know what you’re getting into. I know the guys are really excited about the opportunity to play a rival on the road in our first conference game.”
Georgia leads NCAA Division I men’s basketball in scoring at 99 points per game and holds an undefeated home record at 9-0 with six consecutive wins. Sophomore guard Jeremiah Wilkinson tops Georgia’s scoring list with an average of 17.3 points per contest.
“Stegeman is going to be rocking,” Pearl said. “They’re ranked; they’re tied for the third best start in program history. There’s a lot of excitement around the program right now.”
Auburn (9-4) will seek its sixth straight win over Georgia (12-1) when they meet Saturday at noon Central Time on SEC Network. Radio coverage will be provided by Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey via Auburn Sports Network.
“It’s going to take everything we’ve got,” Pearl said. “We’ve got to have a level of composure and calm about us. Our veterans have to do a good job in those situations of stepping up to get the rest of the group the confidence and the courage to beat a really good team.”
