Last Tuesday, the No. 1 ranked Auburn Tigers dominated the No. 15 ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs 88-66 without their star Johni Broome. However, they will have a bigger pack of bulldogs to face on Saturday traveling to Athens, GA to take on No. 23 Georgia.
"We’ve had some success over there but the games have all been really incredible," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "I’m sure it’s sold out and the environment will be hostile. I’m sure we’ll have witnesses that will make the trip over there. So it should be just a great environment."
Georgia is in the AP Top 25 rankings for the first time since 2011. The Bulldogs dominated two conference foes last week, taking down Kentucky and Oklahoma.
"Mike White has done a great job with that program, turning that program around, and having them be probably the most competitive they’ve been in a long time. And it’s another Quad 1 opportunity for us and we’ll have to continue to play really, really well being down a man," Pearl said.
Stegman Coliseum will not be a walk in the park to play in, as new life has been emerging in the arena due to the team’s success. Tickets to Saturday’s game are sold out on the Georgia Bulldogs website.
One player that has greatly contributed to the Bulldogs’ success is the freshman forward Asa Newell, who is projected to be a top 15 draft pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. So far, he is averaging 15.4 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game.
"Of course, Asa Newell is one of the very best freshmen in the country. He, along with several of the other guys on Georgia’s roster, are guys we recruited and did not get," Pearl said. "And Asa is certainly at the top of that list."
The Tigers will have to keep dominating without Broome, as he is still recovering from that left ankle injury he suffered last Saturday against South Carolina. There is still no clear return date for the Naismith Player of the Year candidate.
One of the main factors of Auburn's victory without Broome was the efficient 3-point shooting. Auburn made 10-of-24 3-pointers, while Mississippi State made 3-of-24 3-pointers.
Senior Chad Baker-Mazara led the way with 20 points, going 3-of-5 from deep. Forward Chaney Johnson scored 17 points and eight rebounds, while Georgia Tech transfer Miles Kelly tailed up 13 points and led the Tigers with 10 rebounds.
If the Tigers want to avoid the upset on Saturday, they must continue to be consistent behind the 3-point line. They must also find ways to control the paint and be aggressive toward the rim if many of the 3-pointers don’t go in.
The Tigers will take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Jan. 18, at noon CST. The game will be broadcasted on SEC Network.
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Albert Osorio is a senior from Hoover, Alabama, who is majoring in journalism. He joined The Plainsman in January 2024.
