AUBURN, Ala. - As Auburn gears up for two pivotal night games at Neville Arena, head coach Steven Pearl is calling on the Tigers' faithful to bring their A-game.
“Our fans have been phenomenal all season,” Pearl shared on the eve of Auburn’s clash with Ole Miss. “It would mean the world if the arena was packed for both games, just like it has been all year. We know how crucial these matchups are, especially the one on Saturday.”
Pearl emphasized the impact of the home crowd, noting, “Our players thrive on that energy. It was a huge factor in our win against Kentucky last Saturday. I urge our fans to keep bringing that noise and energy to help us take down a solid Ole Miss team.”
The Rebels, despite a tough 10-game skid, aren't to be underestimated.
“They're competitive in every game,” Pearl noted, highlighting Ole Miss's road wins at Georgia and Mississippi State. “They’ve succeeded in environments where we struggled. They’re definitely a threat.”
Following a loss to Oklahoma, Auburn regrouped with what Pearl described as a “very spirited film session,” leading to one of their best practices of the year.
“To maintain hope with this team, after all we’ve faced, is crucial,” said Kevin Overton, who delivered a standout performance with 26 points and seven rebounds against the Sooners. “It’s about giving everything to the task at hand. We’ve missed too many chances, and we can’t let that happen again.”
Pearl revisited Auburn’s defensive strategy from their 78-66 victory over Ole Miss on January 20 in Oxford.
“We were united, purposeful, and played with desperation,” he reflected. “That’s the level we need to maintain for a full 40 minutes. We showed that against Kentucky.”
He stressed the necessity of effort and energy to compete in the league. “You can’t win without it. The team saw that and practiced with that mindset.”
Aiming for their 11th straight win over the Rebels, Auburn (15-13, 6-9) faces Ole Miss (11-17, 3-12) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT, with coverage on SEC Network and the Auburn Sports Network featuring Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey.
“Everyone knows the urgency of these next two weeks,” Pearl stated, with Auburn among 42 teams vying for 37 NCAA Tournament at-large bids. “We’ve positioned ourselves well. Now it’s on us to win and finish strong.”