One Auburn basketball staffer either said something Alabama fans will replay after the IBOB, and for months, if not years afterward, or gave Aden Holloway a dose of rat poison. There's practically no inbetween.
Ahead of the No. 1 Tigers' matchup with the No. 2 Crimson Tide Saturday in Tuscaloosa, an AU ambassador said "Boy I miss that jump shot" to Holloway as he was warming up for the biggest basketball game in the state's history.
So far, Auburn has been nothing but gracious about Holloway's tenure. Bruce Pearl spoke highly of Holloway during the IBOB build-up.
"I think things have worked out really well for both (teams)," Pearl said, per Auburn Undercover. "Aden's playing great, his confidence is up. He's one of the most dangerous players coming off the bench in the SEC. And I'm happy for him. I'm happy he's playing with such great confidence. I'm not gonna be happy for him when he's drilling them from 35 (feet) against us. And I think things have worked out pretty well for Auburn, too. I think the guys that we brought in have helped us. So I look at it as a win-win."
Nate Oats sounded confident in Holloway playing his old team.
“He obviously is familiar with their system, their team,” Oats said, per On3. “He had some really good games here. He’s a year older here. He’s gotten comfortable in our system. He’s playing well in it. It’ll be a big game for him, but he’s pretty relaxed. He doesn’t turn the ball over much.
“I don’t anticipate him doing anything crazy. He’ll be ready to play. He’s been ready to play most of our games all year.”
We'll see if that comment empowers Holloway or haunts him. The IBOB may just depend on that outcome.