The Auburn basketball team has put together the most impressive resume in college basketball, and they were rewarded for their efforts on Monday with the #1 ranking in both the AP and Coaches Polls. The ranking came after the Tigers were stuck at the #2 spot behind Tennessee for six weeks.
So far the Tigers have gone undefeated in conference play, taking down Missouri at home and both Texas and South Carolina in fierce road tests. Winning on the road has proven to be a challenge, but Auburn will have to deal with a different challenge when they return home tonight to take on Mississippi State.
The #15 Bulldogs are off to a hot start this season, with their only conference loss to Kentucky. The Tigers' #1 ranking automatically puts a target on their backs, but now the team will have to find a way to win without star big man Johni Broome.
One of the biggest things the Tigers will need to focus on according to head coach Bruce Pearl is rebounding, one of the weakest points of their game against South Carolina.
"We've got good overall length, and guards are going to have to rebound down," he said, per Auburn Rivals. "We're just gonna have to be more physical with our checkouts and not leak out of the break. Tackle 50-50 balls and be more intentional."
In Broome's absence, Chaney Johnson will shift into the starting lineup and will have to step up for the big man a second time this season. Ja'heim "Turtle" Hudson could also see more playing time with Broome out, an opportunity he has been working for, according to Dylan Cardwell.
"The message to them is just stay right and stay ready," he said, per Auburn Undercover. "We were always told as a team someone can go down with the injury, God forbid. And we see Johni going down twice. And so I'm excited for Turtle (Hudson), who has stayed right. The guy's got in the gym. He has worked hard in his condition. He has worked hard with the coaches remembering plays. And so I'm just really excited for him to step up and get some minutes."
The Bulldogs and the Tigers will tipoff at 6:00 p.m. central from Neville Arena.