Auburn’s football win over No. 1 Georgia has the Tigers riding a huge wave of momentum, but Steven Pearl’s team has another heavyweight test waiting this week.
The Auburn basketball team meets Alabama on Thursday night in its second exhibition of the preseason, part of The Feud at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. It’s the first edition of this season’s Iron Bowl of Basketball, and it will be available for fans to watch on YouTube.
Karl Ravech, Daymeon Fishback and Richard Hendrix are on the call, and tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CDT.
The setup inside the arena is as split as the matchup itself. Auburn fans will occupy one side of center court, while Alabama supporters fill the other. Auburn has sold more tickets on its side so far, and organizers are pushing extra promotions and advertising to try to boost last-minute sales for both fanbases.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, where the cheapest option with fees is currently around $30. Auburn sections are 114-129 and 214-228, while Alabama sections are 113-130 and 213-231.
Auburn enters the matchup after an 82-71 loss to Florida State in its first exhibition. The Tigers were down early, then grabbed the lead around the middle of the second half before the Seminoles answered with a 10-0 run and held on in front of a mostly Auburn crowd at Boutwell Auditorium.
Alabama arrives unbeaten in exhibition play. Nate Oats’ team opened with a 111-93 win over Furman at Coleman Coliseum and followed that with a 92-84 victory over Ole Miss in Birmingham.
The rivalry will keep going beyond Thursday, too. Auburn and Alabama are scheduled to meet twice in the regular season, on Jan. 30 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and again on March 6 at Neville Arena. They could also see each other again in the SEC Tournament or March Madness.
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Auburns First Alabama Test Already Put One Tigers Role In Focus
An exhibition in Birmingham gave Alabama and Auburn an early chance to size each other up, and it also offered a useful preview of where Auburn stands in Steven Pearls second year. With the preseason still unfolding, the Tigers used the first half to sort through rotations and roles against a familiar SEC rival, while Alabama brought back key pieces in Aden Holloway and Amari Allen and looked every bit like a team that already knows what it wants to be.
For Auburn, the bigger takeaway was less about the scoreboard and more about how one role is starting to take shape against real competition. Early in the preseason, those minutes matter, especially in a matchup where every possession gets a little more attention than usual. The Tigers got an immediate read on one players place in the rotation, and that kind of clarity can be just as valuable in October as any final result. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Alabama Clash Brought Out A Fire Tigers Fans Will Notice
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For Auburn, the more interesting part may have been the response. The Tigers came out with noticeably more energy and played better in the first half after the incident, a sign that the emotional temperature of the game seemed to suit them. In a matchup that was supposed to be about getting work in before the games start to count, Auburn at least left with a reminder of the intensity this rivalry can produce. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Georgia Shocker Means Nothing If LSU Exposes This Next
Auburns upset of No. 1 Georgia bought the Tigers a fresh dose of belief, but it does not change what comes next. Hosting No. 18 LSU with both teams sitting at 2-2 in conference play, Auburn gets another chance to turn one signature win into real momentum, and the setup is a far different kind of test than the one it passed last week.
LSU arrives with an offense that can make a night uncomfortable in a hurry, especially with tight end TreyDez Green expected back in the mix and quarterback Sam Leavitt coming off a strong showing. The Tigers are still carrying the edge of home-field advantage and the confidence from the Georgia shocker, but if Auburn cannot handle what LSU brings on offense, that victory over the Bulldogs will fade fast in the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]