1/7/23 Auburn Articles

aubiefifty · January 7, 2023

aubiefifty · January 7, 2023

aubiefifty · January 7, 2023

aubiefifty · January 7, 2023

After Georgia loss, accountability key for Auburn ahead of Arkansas clash

Published: Jan. 06, 2023, 3:44 p.m.

4–5 minutes

Auburn Basketball

After Georgia loss, Auburn players holding each other accountable ahead of clash with Arkansas

Auburn guard Zep Jasper (12) and Chris Moore (41) battle for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)AP

Bruce Pearl hasn’t seen many smiles around Neville Arena the last couple days.

Since returning from Athens, Ga., following a disconcerting double-digit road loss to a rebuilding Georgia team on Wednesday night, No. 22 Auburn hasn’t found much of a reason to be happy. The Tigers have been businesslike and introspective the last two days as they look to rebound Saturday for what will be their toughest test to date — a 7:30 p.m. showdown at home against No. 13 Arkansas.

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“Our guys want to win,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said Friday. “We had a great preparation for Georgia, didn’t get it done, and so far it’s been a good preparation against Arkansas, but we know that Arkansas is the best team we’ve played so far this year. So, it’s going to take something special.”

It’s going to take something more than Auburn has been able to produce in recent weeks. Since beating Colgate on Dec. 2 to improve to 8-0, Auburn is just 3-3 over the last month of games, including a 1-3 mark away from Neville Arena. Pearl said after that Colgate win that if the Tigers didn’t start playing better, they would start to struggle as the schedule ramped up.

That’s just what has happened.

While Auburn has still been a quality team this season and has seen growth in some areas, it has not been without its issues, which have produced setbacks in the win-loss column. The latest loss, by 12 against the Bulldogs and first-year coach Mike White this week, resulted in a team meeting before practice Thursday that Pearl said showed good accountability from his players.

“We talked about just improving our energy, coming out there and being more vocal in practice,” senior Allen Flanigan said. “Just constantly talking the whole practice while we’re on defense, making sure guys are in the right spots. We talked about leadership, getting on guys when they’re not doing what they’re supposed to and not going as hard as they can. Just holding everybody accountable.”

It’s a promising sign for a team with a veteran core as it looks to get back on track. While it’s a step in the right direction and shows a willingness by the players to take responsibility, Auburn is sure to have its hands full against a talented Arkansas team at Neville Arena on Saturday night.

Where there’s a challenge, though, there’s also opportunity. In Auburn’s case, it’s a chance at its biggest win of the season — and one that will surely keep the Tigers ranked in the top-25 of the AP poll, where they’ve resided for 28 consecutive weeks.

“It’s like chopping wood, man,” Pearl said. “We just, we’re chopping wood. We’re grinding. We get to the next play. You can’t let the highs get too high. You can’t let the lows (get) too low. We’ve got to take advantage of every opportunity that we have. This is a chance to stay in the top-25, if we can get it. That’s part of making history. That’s kind of what we play for, but in order to do that, we’ll have to have our best effort.

“We’ll have to have the best game, We’ll have to play the best we’ve played all year long.”

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

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aubiefifty · January 7, 2023

Behind Enemy Lines: Auburn-Arkansas preview with Razorbacks Wire’s Connor Goodson

Taylor Jones

5–6 minutes

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The No. 20 Auburn Tigers dropped their first SEC contest of the season on Wednesday, falling to Georgia, 76-64 at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens.

Next on the schedule is a home date with the No. 13 Arkansas Razorbacks this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT at Neville Arena. Following a loss on Wednesday to a rival, plus the ending of last season’s game in Fayetteville, Auburn will enter Saturday’s contest with a sour taste in their mouths.

The last time these two teams met, Auburn traveled to Bud Walton Arena as the No. 1 team in the country and left with an 80-76 overtime loss. First-rounders Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler joined Wendell Green Jr. in reaching double-figures in the score column, but Arkansas took advantage of Auburn fouls by scoring 11 of their 14 overtime points from the free throw line.

All eyes will be on Neville Arena this Saturday, as Auburn and Arkansas will be the only game in the SEC featuring two ranked teams. In an effort to help us learn more about Auburn’s next opponent, we reached out to Razorbacks Wire’s Connor Goodson for assistance.

Goodson joined us to discuss Arkansas’ first SEC win of the season over Missouri, injury woes, and the growing legend of Ricky Council VI. Without further delay, here is the next edition of Behind Enemy Lines with Connor Goodson of Razorbacks Wire.

The Council of Fayettville

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