Auburn Preps for SEC Showdown at Florida: Freeman Ready to Bring the Energy
AUBURN, Ala. - For Auburn sophomore Elyjah Freeman, Saturday’s matchup against No. 16 Florida isn’t just another game on the schedule - it’s personal. With a crowd of family and friends making the four-hour drive from Palm Beach to Gainesville, Freeman is gearing up to put on a show.
“I’ve got family coming to watch,” Freeman said. “It means a lot.
They’re driving hours to come watch me play. I’m fixing to give it all I’ve got.
Effort and energy are going to be there.”
Freeman’s averaging close to 10 points and five boards a night, and he’s been a steady contributor for an Auburn team that’s quietly finding its rhythm in SEC play. The Tigers have taken three of their last four conference games, including a convincing 78-66 win at Ole Miss on Tuesday - a game where they dominated the glass, outrebounding the Rebels 42-26.
That kind of effort on the boards will need to go up another notch against Florida. The Gators aren’t just good at rebounding - they’re elite.
They lead the nation in total rebounds (46.53 per game), rebounding margin (+15.8), and offensive rebounds (17.16 per game). That’s not by accident.
Florida’s frontcourt is a wall of size and physicality, led by a trio of returners from last year’s national championship squad: 6-foot-10 Rueben Chinyelu, 6-foot-11 Alex Condon, and 6-foot-9 Thomas Haugh.
Auburn head coach Steven Pearl isn’t sugarcoating the challenge.
“It’s the best team in our league by a pretty significant margin,” Pearl said. “One of the most imposing, physical teams in college basketball.
A great opportunity against a really quality team. It’s going to require a different level of toughness, physicality, want and desire.”
Pearl’s message to his team is crystal clear: rebound, or ride the bench.
“Anyone that doesn’t check out in this game is not going to play,” he said. “If you miss checkouts in this game, just come sit next to me. That’s how we’re going to approach it, that’s how it’s going to be.”
That kind of accountability speaks to how seriously Auburn is taking this matchup. At 12-7 overall and 3-3 in the SEC, the Tigers are still carving out their identity. But they’ve shown flashes - especially on the defensive end and on the boards - that suggest they’re capable of hanging with the league’s best.
Saturday’s game is more than just a measuring stick. It’s a chance to make a statement.
“A tremendous opportunity for our guys to go on the road and see what we’ve got against a team that has unbelievable size,” Pearl said. “It’s going to require a lot of special in the effort, energy and toughness departments for us to compete.”
Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville.
Auburn holds a 92-85 edge in the all-time series, but this one’s about more than history. It’s about grit, glasswork, and whether the Tigers can rise to the occasion in one of the SEC’s toughest environments.