AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn's NCAA Tournament hopes are riding high after their thrilling comeback win against Kentucky. Now, the Tigers are setting their sights on solidifying their postseason credentials with a crucial matchup against Oklahoma, marking their 16th Quad-1 game this season-a national high.
Freshman standout Sebastian Williams-Adams summed up the team's mindset: “That win was a relief, but we’re still hungry and desperate. Our focus is on playing our way into the tournament. We perform best when the stakes are high.”
The Tigers are on a tight schedule, having left Auburn on Monday afternoon, just under 48 hours after their showdown with Kentucky. This quick turnaround emphasizes the need for swift recovery and strategic preparation as they face the Sooners.
“The SEC is tough; you can’t just show up and expect a win,” Williams-Adams noted. “Every game from here on out is about our tournament hopes. That’s our main focus.”
Oklahoma, despite some late-game struggles this season, has shown resilience with recent victories over No. 25 Vanderbilt and Georgia, snapping a nine-game losing streak in the process.
“A dangerous team,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl remarked. “They’ve held double-digit leads against many teams and are capable of strong finishes. They’re one of the top offenses in the league and play with relentless defensive energy.”
Nijel Pack is a key player to watch. Leading the SEC and ranking 10th nationally, he’s hitting 44.1 percent of his 3-point attempts and averages 15.7 points per game for the Sooners.
“They have several sharpshooters,” Pearl added. “We need to be sharp with our defensive assignments and contest every shot effectively.”
This will be Auburn’s first visit to the Lloyd Nobles Center. The Tigers, currently 15-12 overall and 6-8 in conference play, are set to face Oklahoma (13-14, 3-11) at 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU and the Auburn Sports Network, with Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey calling the game.
Auburn will return to Neville Arena on Saturday to host Ole Miss at 7:30 p.m. CT, where Auburn University students can snag "Standing on Business" T-shirts.