Auburn Faces Ole Miss in SEC Quarterfinals Showdown

Nashville, Tenn. — Auburn University will take on the University of Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) tournament quarterfinals on Friday afternoon, with tipoff scheduled for noon CDT. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

The Tigers have a strong track record against the Rebels, winning both encounters during the regular season. The most recent clash on Feb. 26 resulted in a decisive 30-point victory for Auburn at Neville Arena, where the team shot a remarkable 59.6% from the field and 52.4% from beyond the arc, both season highs.

In their first matchup on Feb. 1, Auburn claimed a tighter victory, defeating Ole Miss 92-82 in Oxford. The Tigers demonstrated their long-range prowess, shooting 50% from three-point range, a percentage that ranked as their second-highest for the season.

After receiving a first-round bye, Ole Miss advanced to the quarterfinals by narrowly defeating the University of Arkansas 83-80 on Thursday. Star guard Sean Pedulla secured the victory with a game-winning three-pointer, marking his only successful shot from beyond the arc after initially shooting 4-for-12 in the game.

“It’s a huge moment for us,” Pedulla said regarding the win. “We’ve got momentum now, and we want to carry it into the next game.”

The Rebels come into the tournament as the No. 8 seed, finishing the regular season with a record of 21-10 and 10-8 in conference play, positioning them among three teams tied at 10-8 for fourth place.

Despite their regular-season triumphs, Auburn faces significant challenges moving forward. The Tigers, having previously held the position of runaway favorites for the tournament title, were recently dealt setbacks with losses to Texas A&M and Alabama. This looming pressure amplifies the importance of how Auburn responds to these early losses.

Friday’s victor will play the winner of the Tennessee vs. Texas matchup in Saturday’s semifinal, further intensifying the stakes. Auburn’s standout forward, Johni Broome, has been instrumental for the team, earning SEC Player of the Year honors while averaging a double-double with 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.

The outcome of the Auburn vs. Ole Miss game will contribute to the potential reshaping of the SEC’s tournament landscape. Expectations are that the intensity of the matchup will more closely mirror the Tigers’ initial triumph rather than the latter blowout.

Viewers can expect expert commentary from Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas, with Jess Sims reporting from the sidelines during the nationally broadcast event.