Auburn basketball is gearing up for what may be the biggest game in Auburn Arena history. The #2 Auburn Tigers will face off against the #12 Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday at noon, and fans are already hyped for the matchup.
While this game isn’t make-or-break in terms of NCAA tournament seeding, it’s important in the race for the SEC basketball crown in early March. Bruce Pearl’s squad is currently hanging on at the top of the SEC with no conference losses, but the Wildcats are right on their heels at the #2 spot with only one conference loss to LSU earlier this month.
To Auburn basketball fans and students, this team is worth supporting whether they’re facing off against the worst team in the league (Georgia) or the second-best, as is the case tomorrow. Despite a predicted blowout against the Dawgs, students were in line over five hours ahead of tip-off.
Now, with the second-best team in the SEC coming to the Plains, students are beginning set up camp outside of Auburn Arena over 24 hours away from tip-off:
@mattplexico @WarDamnStool @Allie_Davison @PabloEscoburner 23.5 hours till kick off #WDE pic.twitter.com/2XSdJEzxjU
— Neil Treu (@NeilTreu) January 21, 2022
Tents starting to pop up now as we get to 24 hours to tip pic.twitter.com/GUYzuLJ2dX
— JM (@jmcollard0426) January 21, 2022
A small community has formed outside of Auburn Arena. Students are doing homework, on Zoom, crushing Chik Fil A. Somebody is playing Pushin P. 24 hours to tip. 37 degrees outside. pic.twitter.com/fQvV62XK5P
— Henry Zimmer (@henryzimmer) January 21, 2022
While the students are in line today waiting to get into the arena tomorrow morning, fellow Auburn basketball fans are rallying around them in support, coordinating to bring hand warmers, drinks, and snacks. Currently, it’s 38 degrees on the Plains, but the temperature could drop as low as 31 degrees before doors open tomorrow at 10:30 a.m for the noon tip-off.