Despite Auburn basketball having played just one regular season game, they’re set to face potentially their biggest threat all season on Saturday.
The No. 11-ranked Tigers are coming off a dominant 94-43 home win against Vermont, and they’ll attempt to travel to Texas's Gulf Coast Region to take on a Houston team that the AP Top 25 Poll has listed as fourth in the nation.
What is 'Plane Gate'?
Head coach Bruce Pearl’s team is reportedly already off to a rough start. Sources say that the Auburn flight that was slated to land in Houston yesterday had to turn around before even reaching cruising altitude– two Tigers had gotten in what the pilot referred to as “a physical altercation, clothes were ripped,” in his transmission to ATC.
It seems almost like the Wild West on Auburn basketball X right now.
Reporters threw names out on November 8 that were disproven the next day. On the morning of November 9, those involved were named.
No suspensions have been issued at this time, and it seems it will stay that way. With that said, despite any official announcement, reserve players Ja’Heim Hudson (Senior) and Jahki Howard (Freshman) did not join the team on their second flight to Houston, per Jeff Goodman.
Auburn-Houston Odds
No. 11-ranked Auburn heads into Houston as a five-point underdog. This isn’t entirely surprising, as they fall seven ranks below 4th-ranked Houston. Interestingly, KenPom rankings have UH and AU No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, meaning this game realistically could easily go either way.
The over/under is set at 141.5.
Auburn-Houston matchups to watch
Broome vs. Tugler
Johni Broome is, without a doubt, one of the best veteran players in the league. He was the 2023 Legends Classic MVP and All-Tournament Team, made the 2023-24 Preseason All-SEC First Team, a Two-Time CollegeInsider.com Lou Henson All-America Team member, and much, much more.
He’s off to a strong start this season, as well; in just 22 minutes of play against Vermont, he scored 12 points with two blocks and two assists, and a +/- of 35.
On the Houston side of the ball will likely be sophomore JoJo Tugler, boasting a six-foot-eight, 230-lb build with a staggering seven-foot-six wingspan. Though he only scored five points in 25 minutes against Jackson State, he blocked three shots and had an authoritative dunk early in the first quarter, setting the tone for an eventual 57-point win.
Baker-Mazara vs. Uzan
CBM is undoubtedly one of the most explosive players in the league, and his first game this season was no exception. The dynamic six-foot-seven forward got the Tigers rolling after a slow start to the first quarter of their matchup against Vermont, scoring the first five points. CBM finished with 11 points in 17 minutes.
On the other side is known lockdown defender and shot creator Milos Uzan. Though Uzan had just eight points in 26 minutes played, he had an impressive ten assists and three steals. Uzan almost certainly won’t be a shot-scoring threat against Auburn -- it’s the shot creation the Tigers will have to worry about.
Auburn is eager to prove they are better than their eleventh rank suggests. They're eager to earn the number one spot in the KenPom rankings.
The only thing in their way is the KenPom first-ranked Houston Cougars, who they’ll tip against Saturday at 8:30 C.T.