Jan. 19, 2018
#17 Auburn vs. Georgia
(2017-18 RECORD: 16-2, 4-1 SEC) vs. (2017-18 RECORD: 12-5, 3-3 SEC)
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| Sat, Jan 20 | 5 p.m. |
By Greg Ostendorf
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Prior to Wednesday, the last time Auburn basketball lost was mid-November in the Charleston Classic. The team moved on quickly that time, defeating Hofstra the next day, and beginning what would eventually become a 14-game winning streak.
The Tigers would love nothing more than to start another winning streak after Wednesday's loss, but it's been a while since they've been in this position. How will they respond?
"I don't know yet," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said Thursday. "We got back to the hotel (after the game) and went to work. I left them alone (Wednesday) night. I talked to them a little bit the next morning on the bus about our edge and continuing to have that edge. They got it. They understand. We will not watch that tape right now because we have to get ready for Georgia."
As of Thursday, the players had moved on from the Alabama loss. When they lost to Temple earlier in the season, they had to play again the next day. This time, there are three days in between games, but the focus turned to Georgia the morning after the Alabama game.
For some, it might have even been sooner.
"I just think great teams don't dwell too much on what goes well or what goes bad," sophomore point guard Jared Harper said. "Things are going to happen. You're going to lose games. You're going to win games. But we're going to try to win as consistently as we can, so we're trying to continue to move forward.
"I don't think our mindset has changed. We still know the things we have to do to be able to win, and we still have to carry out every game and do those things."
Saturday's game against Georgia is scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. CT from Auburn Arena. Rod Bramblett and Sonny Smith will have the radio call on 93.9 Tiger FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app. The game will also be televised on SEC Network with Dave Neal and Jon Sundvold.
Player to watch: Chuma Okeke
Hailing from Atlanta, Ga., freshman Chuma Okeke has made an instant impact since he decided to leave his home state to play for Auburn. As a freshman, Okeke has led the bench in scoring (7.8 points) and rebounding (5.8). He's also shown the ability to extend the defense with a .422 shooting percentage behind the arc. His defensive skills will be needed Saturday when he is matched up with Yante Maten, one of the top players in the SEC.
Inside the series: Georgia
The Bulldogs hold a slight edge in the all-time series at 94-91 and have won the last two matchups, but the Tigers are 10-3 in the last 13 meetings in Auburn. Seven of the last nine games in the series have been decided by single digits, including three by one possession.
Coach Pearl has 12 wins against Georgia as a head coach which trails only South Carolina (13) for the most victories against an SEC opponent.
True balance
With four players averaging 10-plus points per game this season and two others at 7.5 or more points per game, Auburn can get their scoring from any source any night.
Through 18 games this season, the Tigers have had five or more players score in double figures nine times. By comparison, Auburn accomplished that feat just six times a year ago. Four or more players have scored in double figures in 16 of the team's 18 games.
On this date
On Jan. 20, 1975, Eddie Johnson set an Auburn record with 15 consecutive made free throws in one game. Johnson was a perfect 15 of 15 en route to a 98-89 win against Mississippi State. As a team, the Tigers set a Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum record with 40 made free throws as a team after drawing 33 fouls by the Bulldogs.
Auburn holds a 9-12 record on Jan. 20 all-time with seven of those victories coming against SEC opponents.
AUTLIVE Cancer Game, Jan. 27
Join Coach Pearl and the Auburn Basketball program in the local fight against cancer with the purchase of an official AUTLIVE t-shirt at Tuesday night's game. All proceeds benefit hospitals and cancer centers in the state of Alabama. Visit the sales booth in the scholarship or main entrance to purchase your shirt and join us next Saturday, Jan. 27 for the AUTLIVE game against LSU.
Take a timeout
Click here to vote for Bruce Pearl and Children's Harbor in the Coaches Charity Challenge. The coach with the most votes after four rounds wins $100,000 for their charity. Each charity will receive money for every round their representative coach is voted through.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf