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Auburn Basketball: Tigers vs Colorado Game Info, Preview, TV Schedule, Start Time, Etc.

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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Auburn Tigers (1-0) vs Colorado Buffaloes (1-0)

  • Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2014
  • Start Time: 12AM Central
  • Location: Boulder, Colorado
  • Arena: Coors Event Center
  • TV Info: ESPN2
  • Live Stream: Watch ESPN
  • Odds (via Bovada): Colorado (-10.5)

Oh the things you’ll do to get on TV. Auburn and Colorado are scheduled to meet at 12AM Central/11AM Mountain in the fifth game of the ESPN College Basketball Tip-Off Marathon.

“I’m sure when ESPN called a lot schools and said, ‘Do you want to go to Colorado and play at one o’clock in the morning Eastern Time?’ They didn’t get a lot of bite,” Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl said recently. “But the big picture, I want our basketball program part of ESPN’s marathon. I want our basketball program to eventually become a part of some of the better holiday tournaments. You have to start somewhere. And the fact that we get Colorado to come back is a real treat for our fans because they are such a good team.”

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He may have just one game under his belt, but Pearl appears to be in it for the long haul at Auburn. The Tigers took a long haul to Boulder, Colorado for a late night tipoff against a good Colorado Buffaloes team. And, speaking of the “better holiday tournaments,” tonight’s/this morning’s game will be the second time Auburn and Colorado have met on the hardwood. The first was a 78-72 overtime win for the Buffaloes at the Big Island Invitational in Hilo, Hawaii.

Auburn is 1-0 this season, and in the Bruce Pearl era, following an 83-73 come from behind win over Milwaukee Friday. As expected, the Tigers were led by guards Antoine Mason and K.T. Harrell and forward Cinmeon Bowers. Harrell led all scorers with 20 points, 18 of which came in the second half. Mason scored 19 points in his Auburn debut and battled through an ankle injury during the second half. Bowers dominated the boards and grabbed 17 rebounds in addition to his 18 points – a performance which earned SEC Player of the Week honors.

Nov 14, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers guard KT Harrell (1) is blocked by Milwaukee Panthers guard J. R. Lyle (30) during the second half at Auburn Arena. The Tigers beat the Panthers 83-73. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Unfortunately, the Tigers lost starting sophomore guard Tahj Shamsid-Deen to a shoulder injury during the game.

EDIT: Roughly 30 minutes before tipoff, it was announced that Mason’s ankle injury will keep him out of the game, but Shamsid-Deen is available.

The Buffs also won last Friday, beating Drexel 65-48. The win was head coach Tad Boyles’ 149th of his career, meaning a win over the Tigers would be a big one. All Pac-12 selection Josh Scott led the way with 21 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. He was the only player to reach double figures for the Buffs in the defensive battle.

As many teams will this season against the Tigers, Colorado has a distinct size advantage. Scott towers over most of Auburn’s starters at 6-foot-10, and three of the Buffs’ starting five measure 6-foot-7 and up as well as 230 pounds or more. Because of his strength and athleticism, Bowers should match up adequately with Scott, but the Tigers are thin when it comes to big bodies. Jordon Granger will be called upon for his defense, as will 6-foot-8 freshman Jack Purchase – who performed well off the bench against the Panthers.

A 10.5-point favorite over the Tigers, Colorado has won 19 in a row at home against non-conference opponents and they are 60-9 at Coors Event Center in Boyles’ four-plus seasons. Auburn will benefit from the exposure and experience of the game against a 2013-14 NCAA Tournament team that just missed a spot in the most recent AP Top 25. However, the Buffs’ size and depth may be too much to overcome.

Projected Lineups:

Auburn

  • #5 Cinmeon Bowers, F, Jr., 6-foot-7, 278 pounds, 18.0 PPG, 17.0 RPG, 32.0 MPG
  • #25 Jordon Granger, F, Jr., 6-foot-8, 210 pounds, 8.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 28.0 MPG
  • #1 K.T. Harrell, G, Sr., 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, 20.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 32.0 MPG
  • #14 Antoine Mason, G, Sr., 6-foot-1, 216 pounds, 19.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 30.0 MPG
  • #12 K.C. Ross-Miller, G, Sr., 6-foot, 178 pounds, 13.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 23.0 MPG

Colorado

  • #1 Wesley Gordon, F, So., 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, 9.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.0 APG
  • #40 Josh Scott, F, Jr., 6-foot-10, 245 pounds, 21.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 3.0 BPG
  • #0 Askia Booker, G, Sr., 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, 7.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.0 APG
  • #2 Xavier Johnson, G, Jt., 6-foot-7, 230 pounds, 8.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.0 APG
  • #3 Xavier Talton, G, Jr., 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, 8.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.0 APG

Next: Week 13 SEC Football Power Rankings

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