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A spirit that is not afraid

Previewing Auburn versus Yale

<p>Nov. 12, 2021; Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl during a game against Louisiana Monroe from Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala.</p>

Nov. 12, 2021; Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl during a game against Louisiana Monroe from Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala.

On the heels of Auburn’s commanding victory over UCF, the Tigers continue their two-game homestand on Saturday against Yale.

To many, if not most Auburn fans, the Yale Bulldogs are an unknown. Yale, of The Ivy League, is 5-4 on the year, though all five wins have come against teams with losing records.

Yale is led in scoring by senior guard Azar Swain, averaging almost 19 points a game. Swain shoots mainly from inside the arc at a 42.3% percent clip on the season. Swain has been hot for the Bulldogs recently, putting up 23 points against Lehigh on Wednesday and 22 points the game prior. 

Fellow senior guard Jalen Gabbidon helps out immensely in the Yale production. The 6-foot-5 guard pulls down about six boards a game, but bumps his production up to almost nine boards a game when Yale plays away from home.  Gabbidon also shoots a solid 46.4% from the field, averaging 11.7 points per contest. 

Both teams are going to score in large amounts Saturday. Yale has scored under 80 points just twice on the season and Auburn has scored under 80 only three times. 

For the Tigers, Jabari Smith is obviously the name to watch. Smith has been red hot lately, with some experts and analysts saying he is playing like the number one pick in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft. 

Smith is averaging 16.9 points per game and 7.1 rebounds. The 6-10 freshman earned SEC Freshman of the week on Monday, after his excellent three game run in the Battle 4 Atlantis. 

K.D. Johnson is also on a tear, averaging three steals a game along with 15 points per game. 

At home, Auburn plays exceptionally well, aided by the electric Auburn Arena crowd. On their home floor, the Tigers averages 85 points per game while only allowing 62.3 points. 

While the guards will battle it out, Saturday should be a lopsided battle for center Walker Kessler. Kessler is Auburn’s tallest player at 7-foot-1, while Yale does not have a player over 6-10. Dylan Cardwell and Kessler should be able to continue their productive play in the paint against a smaller Yale lineup. 

Against UCF, Kessler had a huge double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. There is no reason to think that Kessler cannot keep that production up against Yale, a team that does not play a true center but four guards and a smaller forward down low. 

Auburn and Yale will tip-off at 1 p.m. CT on ESPNU on Saturday December 4. 


Henry Zimmer | Sports Reporter

Henry Zimmer is from Jacksonville, Florida, and is currently in his fifth year with The Plainsman. He is currently the Sports Reporter and can be followed on Twitter here: @henryzimmer


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