The SEC has proven itself to be the best league in America this season and the Florida Gators (19-3, 6-3 SEC) will see the cream of the crop on Saturday when they take on the number one team in the country by any metric–the Auburn Tigers (21-1, 9-0 SEC).
When you look at what Auburn has done this season, you simply can’t overstate that they are currently on track to have one of the greatest college basketball seasons ever.
That might sound hyperbolic, but when you really start to look at it–you see why it’s true. Not only is Auburn 21-1, but they’ve done it while playing one of the hardest schedules in the country. Knowing the SEC would be strong, most coaches in the league, such as Todd Golden, scheduled a soft non-conference schedule knowing there would be a ton of resume opportunities in league play. Not Bruce Pearl, however, who instead chose to throw his team right into the fire with one of the hardest non-conference schedules of any team in the country. Just take a look at some of the wins the Tigers got:
Houston (Away)
Iowa State (Neutral)
North Carolina (Neutral)
Memphis (Neutral)
Ohio State (Neutral)
Purdue (Neutral)
Their only loss? A 6-point defeat at the hand of Duke, thought to be the second best team in the country, on the road.
Next, Auburn went into league play against an SEC that was considered to be the strongest league in the country and one of the strongest leagues college basketball has ever seen. Well, you wouldn’t have known that by how Auburn has handled it as they’ve cruised to a 9-0 start even while losing Johni Broome, one of the best players in the country, for multiple games due to injury.
According to the NET rankings, Auburn is 12-1 in quadrant-1 games. For a reference, no other team in the country has more than 8. Florida is 4-3 in those games.
According to KenPom, with an adjusted net rating of +37.1, Auburn is the best team college basketball has seen since Duke in 2001–a team that featured Carlos Boozer, Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Chris Duhon, and Shane Battier.
Auburn currently has one of the strongest resumes college basketball has ever seen, meaning the Gators will have an opportunity to land one of the biggest wins possible going on the road to Auburn–and Tigers fans know it will be a big game. Auburn last played on Tuesday, February 4th against Oklahoma, securing an easy 98-70 win. After the win, something remarkable happened. Some of the students made a quick path for the exit, leaving Neville arena and immediately making a 90 degree turn for the nearby student entrance.
These students were beginning to line up for the game against Florida that is happening on February 8…on the evening of the 4th. Yes, as you are reading this there are students currently in line for the game that started lining up multiple days ago–so you know they will be fired up for the matchup.
Of course, one of the big storylines for Florida entering this game will be the health of Walter Clayton and Alijah Martin. It was thought that if needed Clayton probably could have played against Vanderbilt and was perhaps even left out in order to make sure he was closer to 100% for Auburn so he could be in action, though things are a bit murkier with Martin. With SEC’s mandatory injury reporting we will find out on Friday, and you’d have to think the Gators would have to be close to full health if they’re going to have any chance at beating the Tigers.
With Auburn, everything starts with forward Johni Broome who is one of the favorites for national player of the year averaging 18.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game, orchestrating the Tiger offense while also anchoring the defense with his incredible rim protection ability. Broome, a player that was once upon a time deciding between Auburn and Florida in the transfer portal, has been tremendous for three seasons in the SEC and has always had strong games against the Gators including 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 rebounds (shockingly, just about what he’s averaging this season) in the SEC Championship game a year ago. Broome has physicality, soft hands, and a high basketball IQ and it seems like he simply never has off games as even if he isn’t scoring in the twenties he’s going to impact the game as one of the strongest defenders in the country.
Multiple factors have led to Auburn’s huge amounts of success but the biggest reason why they’ve bulldozed teams is their dynamic offense that’s number one in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency by a mile. They’re also rather unique in how they play, relying on a modernized version of the “flex” offense that many people will be familiar with–a style of offense that uses constant back screens to get players interior touches while immediately turning the screeners into threats coming off pindowns. It’s a style of play that’s hard to prepare for as even though you know it’s coming–it’s hard to stop. Auburn’s mighty frontcourt of Johni Broome, Dylan Cardwell, and Chaney Johnson put constant threats on the rim in this offense and it will be the biggest test that the Gators have faced as a defense and a lot of the pressure will be on the frontcourt. When Todd Golden built his post rotation it was all about players who could guard and they’ll have to find ways to be competitive against Auburn and these constant flex screens.
If you remember recent Auburn teams that have been explosive offensively they have largely revolved around small guards that could put up a ton of shots and really score it, but this year’s Tigers are completely different. Guards Tahaad Pettiford, Miles Kelly, and Denver Jones are much less electric offensively but are safer, more reliable options that are disciplined with their passing and reads. If Florida sees a pathway to victory it will likely be to try and make these guys scorers as opposed to allowing them to get the ball into the frontcourt options.
Another challenging mismatch for the Gators will be 6’7”, Chad Baker-Mazara, a rangy wing that will challenge Florida’s lack of size on the perimeter. Baker-Mazara is Auburn’s second leading scorer and he’s someone who can use his length to protect the ball on drives or shoot over defenders with a 39% three-point stroke and the Gators will have to be concerned with this matchup.
Florida has nothing to lose going against one of the most dominant teams college basketball has seen in the last twenty years, on the road no less, but they have everything to gain. The Gators will have to play loose while also being focused, and if they can step up to the physical challenge defensively while hitting some shots on the other end you never know what could happen.
The Gators and Tigers tip off Saturday, February 8 at 4 PM ET, and it will be televised on ESPN 2. It was originally slated to be on ESPN until the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic, and what is thought to be his first game with them will be at approximately the same time.