With Feast Week in the books, college basketball is shifting gears-and fast. The Big Ten is diving into conference play, but this week’s spotlight still shines brightest on high-stakes non-conference matchups.
One of the most intriguing? Auburn heading to Tucson to take on red-hot Arizona this Saturday night.
This isn’t a matchup we see often. In fact, it’s only the third time these programs have met.
Auburn holds the historical edge, winning both previous meetings-once in the 1986 NCAA Tournament and again in the 2018 Maui Invitational. But history won’t mean much when the ball tips at McKale Center, especially with the way Arizona has started this season.
The Wildcats are undefeated through seven games, and they haven’t been padding the schedule either. Wins over Florida, UConn, and UCLA-three teams that opened the season ranked in the national top 12-have Arizona looking every bit like a Final Four contender. They’ve handled business with a combination of physicality, tempo, and depth that’s tough to match.
Auburn, meanwhile, has already had its mettle tested. The Tigers are 6-2, with both losses coming in high-profile settings.
A one-point loss to Houston at Birmingham’s Legacy Arena back on November 18 showed just how close this team is to breaking into that elite tier. The more recent loss-a 102-72 rout at the hands of Michigan in Las Vegas-was a wake-up call.
But Auburn bounced back with solid wins over Oregon and St. John’s, both by double digits, to finish 2-1 in the Players Era Championship.
That Michigan team? They’re sitting right behind Arizona in both the AP and Coaches Polls, ranked second and third respectively.
So Auburn’s been in the fire early, and that’s by design. This schedule isn’t for the faint of heart-and neither is the road ahead.
Arizona, on the other hand, has the benefit of rest and home-court advantage. They’ve had a full week off before hosting the Tigers, and they won’t have to leave Tucson until next week’s showdown with Alabama-also at Legacy Arena, the same venue where Arizona played during its 1997 Final Four run. That’s a nice bit of symmetry, but right now, the focus is on Auburn.
This is Auburn’s first season under Steven Pearl, who took over after his father, longtime head coach Bruce Pearl, retired in September. It’s a transition year, but the program hasn’t skipped a beat in terms of ambition. Scheduling Arizona on the road is a statement in itself.
Before that trip to the desert, Auburn hosts NC State in the ACC/SEC Challenge. That game could serve as a tone-setter heading into the weekend, especially after a narrow overtime loss to Oklahoma State in an exhibition earlier this fall. The Tigers have shown flashes, but Saturday night in Tucson will be their biggest test yet.
Arizona’s blend of experience, talent, and momentum makes them a tough out for anyone right now. But Auburn’s not backing down from the challenge-and that’s what makes this matchup so compelling. Two programs with real aspirations, meeting in early December with the kind of energy you usually see in March.
Circle this one. Saturday night, 10 p.m.
ET on ESPN. Auburn at Arizona.
It’s not just a top-10 game of the week-it’s a measuring stick for both teams.