Following back-to-back wins at Vanderbilt and at No. 2 Alabama this past week, Auburn remains the No. 1 team in this week's AP poll continuing a now six week stretch as the top-ranked team.
“I mean, like you said, we're the No. 1 team in the country,” Auburn center Johni Broome said following the win at No. 2 Alabama on Saturday. “We've just got to get our swagger back and play Auburn basketball. Florida, they scored way too many points. Our defense lacked a lot in that game. But, as you can see, when we play Auburn basketball, we're the only team that can beat us.”
With Monday’s ranking, Auburn has now been ranked more in the top-five under head coach Bruce Pearl than the rest of its history combined. The Tigers have been ranked inside the top-five 23 times with Pearl compared to 22 appearances prior to his arrival.
Auburn is one of nine SEC teams ranked this week – with four ranked in the Top 10. Auburn is followed by conference members; No. 2 Florida, No. 4 Alabama, No. 6 Tennessee, No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 15 Missouri, No. 17 Kentucky, No. 21 Mississippi State and No. 24 Ole Miss.
Pearl and his squad already have 14 quad-one wins in their first 23 games of the season – all which were won away from home. The Tigers’ average margin of victory against its seven quad-one opponents is 13.5 points.
Auburn has wins against nine teams in this week’s AP top 25; No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Houston, No. 6 Tennessee, No. 8 Iowa State, No. 13 Purdue, No. 15 Missouri, No. 21 Mississippi State, No. 22 Memphis and No. 24 Ole Miss.
The Tigers also rank at the top of the KenPom metric system with wins over five of the top 10 rated teams and lead No. 2 Duke by a +.52 margin.
The top ranked Tigers return home for a three game stretch to face Arkansas on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. CST before taking on the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. CST.
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Patrick is a junior from Auburn, Alabama, double majoring in journalism and marketing. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2022.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @patrickabingham
