With one win under its belt, Auburn is looking at a much larger opponent for their next matchup.
After knocking Vermont 94-43 in their first game of the season, the Tigers are now facing No. 4 Houston on Saturday night. This game is shaping up to be one of high stakes for Auburn.
The Houston Cougars, who were projected to be the No. 1 team in the country, ended last season with a hard loss in the Sweet 16. The Cougars opened this season on Monday night, where they dominated Jackson State 97-40.
“They play the right way. They play as a team,” said Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl. “There’s a culture there for sure.”
Auburn is coming into this season with one of its most dangerous rosters yet. Their experience showed on the court against Vermont, when the Tigers forced 16 turnovers with a shooting average of 56%. However, Pearl is not letting this performance cloud his judgment against Houston.
“You know, we’re going to be, get obviously exposed,” said Pearl. “I would think whoever wins the rebounding battle are going to be important.”
Offense will be a crucial part in this game, seeing as both teams are defensive powerhouses. Auburn’s defensive effectiveness was ranked No. 1 last season, while Houston was not far behind at No. 2.
“You know, the numbers say these are the top two teams in KenPom ratings. These are two of the top defensive teams in the country. So, it could be first to 50,” said Pearl.
Although defense will be a big factor to get past, the Tiger’s should feel confident offensively going into this game. Against Vermont, the Tigers had five different players score in the double digits with multiple three-pointers to prove it. Georgia Tech transfer Miles Kelly led the group with 7-9 from the 3-point line.
Houston is returning the majority of the roster, with some new additions. This means connections and communication has already been established on their end of the court. This could pose a threat to Auburn, seeing as Houston’s seniority allows them to make adaptations.
“It's definitely going to be a dog fight,” said forward Chaney Johnson “But I feel like we’re prepared.”
Both teams are coming off of small non-conference wins, so this game will be a real test. Houston does have a slight advantage with this game being played at the Toyota Center in Downtown Houston.
“I think, regardless of the outcome, playing the No. 1 or 2 team on the road and a team that is as physical and old as Houston — where is it going to get harder?” Pearl said.
Auburn is looking at one of their toughest schedules in history. The Tigers are scheduled for non-conference games against Iowa State, Duke and Purdue. Opening the season early will allow for team development, no matter the outcome.
Auburn vs. Houston is set to take place on Saturday night in Houston. The game will be played at 8:30 p.m. CST on ESPNU.
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Madelyn Marsh is a freshman from Castroville, Texas, who is majoring in journalism. She joined The Plainsman in fall 2023.
