Steven Pearl and the Auburn Tigers begin the new year and SEC play against the No. 23 Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers will be looking to improve on a non-conference slate in which they dropped four of five matchups against ranked opponents. The Bulldogs, however, have enjoyed a strong 12-1 start to the season, with their only loss coming in a 97-94 overtime defeat to Clemson.
With this in mind, it is also important to note that Georgia has the second-worst strength of schedule in the SEC (No. 296 nationally), while Auburn has the second-best (No. 21 nationally). In recent years, Auburn basketball has made it a priority to fill its non-conference schedule with highly touted teams to better prepare its players for conference and tournament play later in the year. While this strategy has handed the Tigers a few more blowout losses this season than in previous years, it has also helped them learn to adjust to the top offensive and defensive squads in the nation.
With the Tigers having already faced four opponents ranked in the national top 10 this season, and the Bulldogs yet to face a ranked opponent, it would not be surprising to see Auburn start the game on a run while Georgia adjusts.
In their games against Power 5 teams this season, however, Georgia has proven to be a problem for defenses. Their dynamic guard duo of sophomore Cal transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson and junior Blue Cain has combined for 34 points per game this season with solid shooting splits. The Bulldogs collectively have struggled shooting the ball, connecting on under 32% from 3-point range (third worst in the SEC). This could work in Auburn’s favor, as the Tigers have struggled against elite outside-shooting teams.
The Tigers have faced plenty of offensive struggles as well this season, most notably with ball security. Auburn ranks in the bottom five in the SEC in turnover-to-assist margin. Coach Pearl and the Tigers will hope to limit these errors during SEC play in hopes of earning the school’s fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, the most in program history.
With the loss of towering center Emeka Oporum to injury, Auburn is now one of the smaller teams in the SEC, with its only player standing 6-foot-9 or taller being forward KeShawn Murphy. It will be interesting to see how the Tigers adjust to height mismatches as the season progresses.
UCF transfer forward Keyshawn Hall has been the Tigers’ primary offensive weapon and top contributor on the glass, averaging 20 points and eight rebounds per game this season. However, Auburn will be looking for increased offensive production from star point guard Tahaad Pettiford throughout SEC play and beyond. Pettiford is averaging more than 14 points per game this season, but he will be seeking more efficient shooting performances moving forward.
Be sure to catch the Auburn Tigers this Saturday afternoon as they begin SEC play against a ranked opponent, something that has become a familiar sight in recent years.
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Jonathan is a freshman majoring in industrial and systems engineering. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
