Auburn will travel to Mississippi State University on Saturday, March 5, for what seems, on the surface, to be a meaningless game.
The teams currently rank 12th and 13th in the SEC and have no chance of earning a berth in a postseason tournament, barring a miraculous run in the SEC Tournament.
However, both teams have something to play for — the luxury of not playing on the first day of the conference tournament.
The winner of Saturday’s game will have the opportunity to earn the 11th seed in the tournament, but it will need help.
The University of Mississippi will play at the University of Tennessee on Saturday before the Auburn game, and a Rebel win would ensure a three-way tie for 11th if Auburn wins in Starkville, Mississippi.
If Tennessee upsets Ole Miss in Knoxville, Tennessee, the result of Auburn’s game would become irrelevant, as the Tigers and Mississippi State could swap places in the standings but would still be pitted against each other in next Wednesday's, March 9, game. While a Tennessee win would ensure a “double-dip,” or playing the same team in consecutive games, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said it will not change the way he coaches Saturday’s game.
“I’ve never played the game not to win the game, and that could be a mistake,” Pearl said. “I know the game in the tournament is the bigger game. I could be wrong, but we’re going to go down there and try to do the things that we think we can do to be successful against Mississippi State.”
Pearl said he believes his team is going to play its best ball down the stretch of the season, mostly because of the team’s improving health. T.J. Dunans (knee) and Tyler Harris (concussion) have recently returned from injuries, but Pearl said he feels the team needs more consistency from certain players, namely Harris, Bryce Brown and Cinmeon Bowers, to be successful.
“We’re as healthy as we’ve been, right now, in a while,” Pearl said. “So we have an opportunity. I felt that way against Texas A&M, and we didn’t take advantage of it.”
Auburn is hoping to recapture last year’s magic in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Tigers entered as the 13th seed but advanced to the semifinals before being eliminated by then-No. 1 Kentucky. However, this year is different, according to Pearl.
He said last year’s team had a chance to build chemistry and form roles throughout the season, a luxury this team has not been afforded because of various injuries and suspensions.
Even so, Pearl said he likes his team’s chances in the tournament because of the parity in the SEC, and college basketball in general, this season.
Unlike Kentucky last season, there is no dominant team in the league this year, as evidenced by the four teams which could tie for first after Saturday’s games.
The league’s balance, a stark contrast from the recent seasons when the tournament began with a clear favorite, could result in fireworks next week in the Music City.
“The tournament’s going to be incredible,” Pearl said. “It’s just — it’s going to be incredible what comes out of there.”
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