Auburn Looks to Cool Off Red-Hot Arkansas in Key SEC Rematch
AUBURN, Ala. - When Auburn and Arkansas met back on January 10, it was all Tigers. Auburn rolled to a dominant 95-73 win, leaving Razorbacks head coach John Calipari to admit postgame, “We had no chance today.” But that was five weeks ago - and a lot has changed since.
Now, the Tigers head into Fayetteville looking to complete the season sweep against a surging Arkansas squad that’s won five of its last six and boasts a 12-1 record at Bud Walton Arena. This isn’t the same team Auburn ran past in January - not by a long shot.
“Our guys are ready to go,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said ahead of Saturday’s SEC showdown. “Another great opportunity to continue to improve a resume that we’ve put a lot of really good work into.”
First Meeting: A Blueprint for Success
In that first matchup, Auburn didn’t just win - it imposed its will. The Tigers jumped out early, stayed aggressive, and never let up. Forward KeShawn Murphy was a force, notching his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 boards.
“Attention to details, drive and effort. That’s all it was,” Murphy said, reflecting on the performance.
“We came out the more aggressive team, started early and we kept that the whole 40 minutes. That’s why we won that game.”
Murphy, now just four rebounds shy of 500 for his career, has been a steady presence in the paint, and his physicality will be critical again on Saturday.
Arkansas Has Found Its Rhythm
But Arkansas has found another gear since that loss. The Razorbacks have tightened up defensively, attacked the paint with purpose, and leaned heavily on their freshman phenom, Darius Acuff Jr.
Acuff has been electric, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors six times and currently sitting third in the league in scoring at 20.8 points per game. He also leads the SEC in assists with 6.3 per game - a rare combination of scoring and playmaking that makes him a matchup nightmare.
“He’s such a special player and does so many good things for them,” Pearl said. “It’s going to require another great effort as far as our one-on-one defense.
He’s shown an ability to make contested shots at a high level. He’s special, he’s elite, and I know our guys are excited about the opportunity to go up against him again.”
Pettiford Heating Up for Auburn
Auburn has a young star of its own in sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford, who’s been playing some of his best basketball of the season. Over the last three games, Pettiford is averaging 19 points and six assists, showing a growing command of the offense.
“I try to value possessions as much as I can,” Pettiford said. “Try to feed guys when they’re open and make the right decision.”
That kind of poise and decision-making will be key on the road in one of the toughest environments in the SEC.
Revenge Factor and Road Challenge
Auburn knows this one won’t look like the first meeting. Arkansas has clearly used that loss as fuel, and they’ve been “really intentional about driving and getting paint touches,” according to Pearl. Add in the revenge factor and the Razorbacks’ near-perfect home record, and the Tigers are walking into a high-stakes battle.
“When you win a game like that, there’s obviously a little bit of a revenge factor on their side,” Pearl said. “They’re playing on their home floor where they’re really good. They’ll be fired up and excited about the game.”
What’s at Stake
Auburn (14-10, 5-6 SEC) is trying to snap a three-game skid and keep its postseason hopes trending in the right direction. A road win over a ranked opponent like No. 21 Arkansas (18-6, 8-3 SEC) would go a long way toward boosting their tournament resume.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPN and the Auburn Sports Network from Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
After Saturday, the Tigers return home for a big-time matchup against Kentucky on Feb. 21 - the annual AUTLIVE Cancer game at Neville Arena, with free AUTLIVE T-shirts for Auburn students. But first, they’ve got business to handle in Fayetteville.