Auburn solidified its spot atop the nationwide rankings with a scintillating victory over then-No. 2 Alabama on Saturday.
Now the Tigers look to keep away from a letdown once they host up-and-down Arkansas on Wednesday night time in Southeastern Convention play.
Auburn (23-2, 11-1 SEC) prevailed 94-85 within the No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown on the Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa.
“You by no means know whether or not or not a recreation can dwell as much as the hype,” Tigers coach Bruce Pearl mentioned. “We have been very ready. Coaches did an important job with the sport plan. The children executed early. …
“I’m an enormous fan of constructing historical past, and I do know that 1-2s are uncommon.”
Nationwide Participant of the Yr candidate Johni Broome had 19 factors, 14 rebounds and 6 assists however was rated as simply the second-best participant on the ground by Pearl.
The coach’s decide for prime performer was guard Denver Jones, who had 16 factors on offense and helped restrict Alabama star Mark Sears to 4-of-17 capturing.
Jones was named SEC Participant of the Week on Monday after averaging 18.5 factors in two video games. He scored a season-high 21 factors and matched his season greatest of 5 3-pointers in an 80-68 win at Vanderbilt on Feb. 11.
“How do you keep in entrance of Mark Sears? Hardly anyone can,” Pearl mentioned. “Denver Jones did, and no person talked about it. … He is the most effective defensive gamers in school basketball. He must be on the Naismith All-Defensive crew.”
Concerning his method within the huge recreation, Jones mentioned: “Popping out aggressive. If I had an open look, I used to be taking it, trusting myself and my teammates.”
Broome injured an ankle throughout the second half and was hobbling down the stretch. It stays to be seen how spry he’s in opposition to the Razorbacks.
Broome boasts team-best averages of 18.1 factors, 10.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and a pair of.7 blocked pictures.
Arkansas obtained crushed at dwelling, 83-51, final season by Auburn and faces a formidable activity on this season’s lone scheduled matchup.
The Razorbacks (15-10, 4-8) cannot afford too many extra losses with six video games left within the common season. The strain is definitely on with regards to their NCAA Event hopes.
Maybe that is why Arkansas coach John Calipari snapped throughout the press convention following a 69-61 street loss to then-No. 8 Texas A&M on Saturday.
“For us to bust by, we’ll must beat anyone,” Calipari mentioned. “I wished to ensure they weren’t completely happy we’ll be OK. No. If we would received that recreation, we’re within the (NCAA) Event.
Then Calipari screamed, “So it isn’t OK to say we’ll be all proper!
“Now, we’ll must go get anyone else. However I did not need to put that on them, as a result of I’ve obtained some guys which can be slightly bit fragile.”
Solely one in all Arkansas’ 4 SEC wins was in opposition to a ranked foe, that coming in Calipari’s extremely anticipated return to Kentucky (then No. 12) on Feb. 1.
No. 15 Missouri and No. 21 Mississippi State — each at dwelling — stay on the Razorbacks’ closing stretch.
Towards Texas A&M, Karter Knox scored a team-best 17 factors on 7-of-9 capturing. Zvonimir Ivisic had 13 factors after averaging 26.0 over the earlier two contests.
Adou Thiero owns team-best averages of 15.8 factors and 6.1 rebounds after producing simply 10 factors and three boards in opposition to the Aggies.
–Subject Stage Media
