In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, Butch Thompson reacts to baseball's 5-0 week, and the basketball team is on the verge of clinching the SEC regular-season title
The Auburn baseball team opened their season with a frenzy of home games. They played a weekend series against Holy Cross, winning two of three games before two midweek matchups against Troy and UNA.
Auburn defeated a ranked Troy team 7-6 on Ike Irish's walk-off hit to center field on Tuesday and beat UNA 6-2 the following Wednesday. This weekend, the Tigers swept Wright State and run-ruled them in the first two games. It's been a hot start for Butch Thompson's team, and he sees the potential in his squad for the rest of the season.
"I think our team has a chance to be close if we continue to make good decisions and stay together as we're challenged" Thompson said, per Auburn Undercover. "If we'll continue to lean on one another and not fracture, this has a chance to be a close team. I think that was evident trying to get through that first series after what we had gone through with those boys being there for Cade. We didn't know how to act with a lot of the players and even as a coach. This week was more of what I expected to see from us when we play the game of baseball."
Auburn Basketball could clinch SEC regular-season title
While baseball is just getting started, basketball's regular season is about to end. With only four games left, it's possible that Auburn basketball could clinch the regular-season title this weekend under the right circumstances. It won't be easy, and the Tigers still have multiple challenging games ahead.
Auburn, Florida, and Alabama are the three teams at the top of the conference. The Tigers boast a 13-1 conference record, while the Gators and the Tide are both 11-3 in conference play.
Here are each team's matchups this week:
Auburn: Ole Miss, at Kentucky
Florida: at Georgia, Texas A&M
Alabama: Mississippi State, at Tennessee
According to Auburn Undercover, Auburn basketball could clinch a share of the title if they win both of this week's games, or if they win one game and both Alabama and Florida lose one game. The Tigers can clinch the title outright if they win both games and Alabama and Florida both lose one game OR if Auburn wins one game and Alabama and Florida lose both of this week's games.
Of course, a formidable Ole Miss team will arrive on the Plains this Wednesday, and winning in Rupp Arena will be no easy feat for the Tigers. As the season comes to a close, the stakes continue to get higher.