Top-Ranked Auburn Hosts Georgia in Crucial SEC Showdown

AUBURN, Ala. – No. 1 Auburn (24-2, 12-1 SEC) faces off against Georgia (16-10, 4-9 SEC) Saturday at 3 p.m. CT at Neville Arena. The Tigers are eyeing their sixth 25-win season in eight years and hope to extend their series dominance over the Bulldogs.

Auburn, riding a three-game win streak, leads the SEC standings by two games over Alabama and Florida, with just five regular-season contests remaining. The Tigers aim to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume after narrowly defeating Georgia 70-68 in Athens earlier this season without their star player, Johni Broome, who returns for this matchup.

“Having Johni back will be a boost. He’s the best player in college basketball,” said Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl. “We showed our best hand in our last meeting, but it will take another great effort to beat them again.”

The Bulldogs, coming off a midweek bye, aim to end a three-game losing streak. Last week, they suffered an 87-74 defeat to No. 15 Missouri. Despite that setback, Georgia holds wins over ranked teams, including a home victory against Kentucky.

Georgia head coach Mike White recognized the challenge against a top-ranked team, saying, “If we want to control our destiny, we’ve got to do a better job of defending without fouling. This is a very good front line.”

Auburn has won 12 of the last 15 matchups against Georgia, including four consecutive victories. The Tigers are 55-4 at home over the past four seasons, recently setting a record for 67 consecutive sellouts at Neville Arena.

Pearl is aware that playing at “The Jungle” is no easy task for visitors. “Our home court is one of the toughest environments in the country,” Pearl said. Eight NBA scouts from teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors are expected to attend Saturday’s game.

Player performance will be critical in this rematch. Broome, now back in the lineup, has averaged 16 double-doubles this season. Georgia’s Asa Newell leads his team with 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Both teams rank high in rebounding and blocking, particularly Georgia, which averages 5.5 blocks per game.

“We’re competing for a championship,” said Auburn senior forward Chaney Johnson, who has been impactful off the bench, averaging nearly 15 points over his last five games. “Every game at this stage matters as we push forward.”

The rivalry adds to the anticipation of Saturday’s matchup, with historical significance as it marks the 201st meeting between the two programs. Auburn currently leads the series 103-97, including a dominant 65-25 record when playing at home.

As the Tigers vie for another league title, fans can tune in to catch the action live on ESPN. Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will provide coverage on the Auburn Sports Network.