Going into Saturday, Auburn could have finished as high as second and as low as sixth in the SEC.
But the Tigers handled business with a 14-point dismantling of Georgia – defeating the Bulldogs 92-78 and earning the No. 4 seed in the SEC Tournament and a double bye to start the postseason.
“I think to win 13 games in this league is really something,” said head coach Bruce Pearl. “I’m just very grateful to our players and our coaching staff because this league was daunting. It’s the best I’ve seen it.”
Auburn started the afternoon by honoring seniors of the team, including three student managers. The players who were honored included center Johni Broome, forward Chris Moore, guard K.D. Johnson and walk-ons Jalen Harper and Carter Sobera.
Auburn’s Jaylin William and Lior Berman are seniors in their fifth year with the program but went through Senior Day activities last season and did not this time around.
Auburn carried the energy and excitement from the festivities into the game once the first whistle sounded. Led by ferocious dunks from Williams and Chad Baker-Mazara, lights-out shooting by Denver Jones and terrific ball movement, the Tigers had control throughout the entire game on their way to the victory.
Jones got the scoring started with one of his seven 3-pointers made to give the Tigers the first lead of the game, a lead they never surrendered.
Jones’ seven 3-pointers marked just the 10th time a player at Auburn since Pearl arrived on the Plains in 2014 has hit seven or more 3-pointers in a single game.
“He’s being rewarded because he does all the right things almost all the time,” Pearl said. “You put yourself in position for God to bless you, and whether you get the blessing or not, you put yourself in position. Denver Jones has put himself in this position where the way he trains, the way he works, the way he carries himself. He’s a terrific player.”
As Auburn used Jones’ three 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes to open a 26-12 lead, Williams decided it was his turn to get in on the action.
As Chris Moore deflected a Georgia inbound pass, Moore made an outlet pass to Williams who rose for a massive dunk to send Neville Arena into a frenzy.
The fun wasn’t over as Baker-Mazara soon after threw down a tomahawk jam, Cardwell completed an alley-oop and Auburn used exquisite passing to go coast to coast in the final four seconds to end the half on a buzzer-beating dunk from Williams.
“I seen Johni get a rebound, and I just took off,” Williams said. “I didn’t look to see where the ball was or anything then I seen Chad had it, I was like ‘oh I’m here.’ Then he threw it to me, and then I dunked it.”
The Tigers’ picture-perfect passing on the final possession of the half was just one example of how Auburn passed throughout the entire game. Auburn finished Saturday’s game with 29 assists, the most assists by an Auburn team since Pearl took over in 2014, and it was Auburn’s big men leading the charge.
Broome and Chaney Johnson led the Tigers in assists with five apiece while Williams and Cardwell also had four as the quartet combined for 18 assists.
“Assists are fun,” Williams said. “Especially a good pass or assist usually leads to a three ball or a crazy dunk or something like that. So it’ll change the game, and when you’re playing like that, everyone involved, it’s fun. And that’s Auburn basketball.”
Georgia picked up its play in the second half, matching Auburn’s 47 second-half points with 47 of its own as the Bulldogs went to the line 22 times in the second half and connected on 14 to hang around.
But it wasn’t ever enough to threaten the Tigers too much as Auburn also went to the free-throw line over 20 times, connecting on 13 free throws. The Tigers also shot above 50% from the field in the second half and connected on six 3-pointers – four of which came from Jones.
Jones led the Tigers in scoring with 21 while Broome scored 14 with six rebounds and five assists. Williams had 13 points and Cardwell was the Tigers’ fourth double-digit scorer with 10 points.
With the win, Auburn will begin the SEC Tournament, which starts Wednesday, in the quarterfinals as the four seed on March 15. Receiving a double bye, the Tigers don’t know who their opponent will be yet but do know they will play the winner of South Carolina versus Arkansas or Vanderbilt.
Auburn's first matchup of the tournament is slated for March 15 at 2:30 p.m. CST with coverage on ESPN.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Jacob Waters is a senior majoring in journalism. From Leeds, Alabama, he started with The Plainsman in August, 2021.
Twitter: @JacobWaters_
