Jan. 26, 2018
#19 Auburn vs. LSU
(2017-18 RECORD: 18-2, 6-1 SEC) vs. (2017-18 RECORD: 12-7, 3-4 SEC)
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| Sat, Jan 27 | 5 p.m. |
By Greg Ostendorf
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The hottest ticket in town this weekend will be to see the Auburn men's basketball team host LSU on Saturday in Auburn Arena. Why? For starters, fans will come get to cheer on team that is currently 18-2 and leads the SEC.
But Saturday's game is about more than just basketball. It's about the "AUTLIVE" campaign that coach Bruce Pearl started when he was at Tennessee and brought to Auburn with him. It's about supporting those who have been diagnosed with cancer, and it's about encouraging others to get checked and try and detect the disease early.
"You'll die of something else and you will outlive cancer if you can detect it early," Pearl said. "Whether it's for guys getting the tests we need to get or for girls getting the tests they need to get at certain ages, or the blood tests, or getting a mole checked or something on your skin ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" get it checked. If it's detected early than you've got a chance, a fighting chance."
To help with the cause, Auburn has been selling navy "AUTLIVE" shirts all week. On Saturday, you will see Pearl and the coaches wearing them. You'll see the players wearing them during warm-ups. And the hope is that fans, if they haven't already, will buy a shirt and wear it to the game to support the Tigers and support the cause.
"The funds that we raise for AUTLIVE go directly to cancer patients," Pearl said. "We will be supporting six or seven local agencies and one in Knoxville. The doctors that are treating the patients know which patients are struggling to meet a mortgage payment or pay the gas bill, keep the lights on. That's what this money goes to.
"Every dime that's raised goes directly to a patient to let them know that people care, that Auburn basketball cares and that Auburn basketball's fan base cares that they are battling cancer, and that they are not going through this alone."
The game itself 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 Kevin Fitzgerald and Sean Harrington on the call.
Player to watch: Davion Mitchell
In his first collegiate campaign, Davion Mitchell has been a key contributor off the bench. Known as a lockdown defender, the freshman has racked up seven steals and one block, while also holding a plus-151 advantage on the court. Mitchell, who is averaging 4.6 points and 2.3 assists per game, will be one of the defenders tasked with guarding LSU star Tremont Waters on Saturday.
Inside the series: LSU
LSU is ahead in the all-time series with an 85-68 record. However, under Pearl, Auburn has won three of the last four and four of the last six.
Auburn is 36-35 at home in the series and has picked up nine wins since 2000 on its home floor.
Off to a good start
At 18-2, Auburn is off to its fourth-best 20-game start in program history, only trailing the 1927-28, 1958-59 and 1998-99 Tigers, who were all 19-1 through 20 games.
Auburn has matched its win total from a season ago when the Tigers finished 18-14 and have won 18 games for just the third time in the last 15 years. It is the first time Auburn has won 18 games in back-to-back seasons since doing so in three consecutive seasons from 1998-99 to 2000-01 (29 wins in 1998-99, 24 wins in 1999-00 and 18 wins in 2000-01).
Active hands
Auburn has forced 19, 19 and 20 turnovers in its last three games. It is the first time the Tigers have forced at least 19 turnovers in three straight SEC games since the 1998-99 season (LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama) and the first time they have done it in three straight games of any kind since the 2009-2010 campaign (High Point, Alabama A&M, Troy).
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