Auburn (9-2) will take on Chattanooga (8-4) Saturday night inside Neville Arena. It will be the final game the Tigers play in 2023 and the second-to-last non-conference game of the season.
The Tigers are looking to continue to improve as SEC play awaits in the new year. While non-conference play has not gone perfectly, Auburn still sits in a good position heading into conference play.
Despite being just outside the AP top-25 poll, the Tigers are ranked 21st in the NET rankings, 8th in Torvik Analytics, and 10th in KenPom. All of those metrics play a more pivotal role in deciding the teams selected for the NCAA Tournament then the AP poll.
Rankings change from game to game, however, so if Auburn seeks to maintain or even improve their ranking, they will have to continue to win and improve. The first step in the process is defeating Chattanooga on Saturday night.
Out of the Southern Conference, the Mocs may not seem like a major threat, but they do hold an 8-4 record so far. The Mocs strength offensively seems to be their three-point shooting. They attempt nearly 31 three-pointers a game, the fourth-most in the country. Out of those 31, they averaged over 10 threes made per game. That is the ninth-best in the country.
Their defense gives up 73.1 points per game, which is right around the average mark in college basketball this season. However, they are opportunistic, averaging over five steals per game. Auburn turned the ball over 18 times against Alabama State in their previous game. Chattanooga will certainly try to cause similar issues on Saturday.
The backcourt leads the way for the Mocs. Honor Huff and Mobile native Trey Bonham make a dynamic duo. Both guards average over 15 points per game and shoot over 35% from three. Slowing down Chattanooga on Saturday for Auburn will start with their backcourt.
While the backcourt may get the most attention, the Mocs have three other players who have double digits, and they're all in their front court. Forward Tyler Millin, out of Calera, Alabama, averages nearly 11 points per game and over five rebounds. Forward Sam Alexis averages 12 points per game, and forward Jan Zidek averages 13 points per game.
Auburn's defense will have to be at its best to slow down the Mocs. The matchup will be a good litmus test this close to SEC play. Many teams in the SEC shoot the three at a high level, like Chattanooga, so Saturday's matchup will allow the Tigers a chance to see an offense similar to what they will face in the future.
By the time of tip-off Saturday night, it will have been eight days since the Tigers last played. They will look to shake off any rust and get a win to finish off 2023 on a high note. It will be a busy day for Auburn sports, as Auburn football plays at 1 p.m., then the basketball game will tip at 8 p.m. on the SEC Network and the Auburn Sports Network.
