Auburn solidified its spot atop the nationwide rankings with a scintillating victory over then-No. 2 Alabama on Saturday.
Now the Tigers look to keep away from a letdown once they host up-and-down Arkansas on Wednesday night time in Southeastern Convention play.
Auburn (23-2, 11-1 SEC) prevailed 94-85 within the No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown on the Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa.
“You by no means know whether or not or not a sport can stay as much as the hype,” Tigers coach Bruce Pearl stated. “We had been very ready. Coaches did an important job with the sport plan. The youngsters executed early. …
“I’m a giant fan of creating historical past, and I do know that 1-2s are uncommon.”
Nationwide Participant of the 12 months candidate Johni Broome had 19 factors, 14 rebounds and 6 assists however was rated as simply the second-best participant on the ground by Pearl.
The coach’s choose for high performer was guard Denver Jones, who had 16 factors on offense and helped restrict Alabama star Mark Sears to 4-of-17 taking pictures.
Jones was named SEC Participant of the Week on Monday after averaging 18.5 factors in two video games. He scored a season-high 21 factors and matched his season finest of 5 3-pointers in an 80-68 win at Vanderbilt on Feb. 11.
“How do you keep in entrance of Mark Sears? Hardly anyone can,” Pearl stated. “Denver Jones did, and no one talked about it. … He is among the best defensive gamers in faculty basketball. He must be on the Naismith All-Defensive staff.”
Concerning his method within the massive sport, Jones stated: “Popping out aggressive. If I had an open look, I used to be taking it, trusting myself and my teammates.”
Broome injured an ankle in the course of the second half and was hobbling down the stretch. It stays to be seen how spry he’s in opposition to the Razorbacks.
Broome boasts team-best averages of 18.1 factors, 10.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and a pair of.7 blocked pictures.
Arkansas bought crushed at residence, 83-51, final season by Auburn and faces a formidable job on this season’s lone scheduled matchup.
The Razorbacks (15-10, 4-8) cannot afford too many extra losses with six video games left within the common season. The stress is actually on in relation to their NCAA Match hopes.
Maybe that is why Arkansas coach John Calipari snapped in the course of the press convention following a 69-61 street loss to then-No. 8 Texas A&M on Saturday.
“For us to bust by, we will must beat someone,” Calipari stated. “I needed to ensure they weren’t pleased we will be OK. No. If we would received that sport, we’re within the (NCAA) Match.
Then Calipari screamed, “So it isn’t OK to say we’ll be all proper!
“Now, we will must go get someone else. However I did not wish to put that on them, as a result of I’ve bought some guys which might be a bit of bit fragile.”
Solely one among Arkansas’ 4 SEC wins was in opposition to a ranked foe, that coming in Calipari’s extremely anticipated return to Kentucky (then No. 12) on Feb. 1.
No. 15 Missouri and No. 21 Mississippi State — each at residence — stay on the Razorbacks’ closing stretch.
Towards Texas A&M, Karter Knox scored a team-best 17 factors on 7-of-9 taking pictures. Zvonimir Ivisic had 13 factors after averaging 26.0 over the earlier two contests.
Adou Thiero owns team-best averages of 15.8 factors and 6.1 rebounds after producing simply 10 factors and three boards in opposition to the Aggies.
–Area Degree Media
