When Auburn (19-5, 8-3) hosts South Carolina (21-3, 9-2) on Wednesday, it will be the first time in the matchup’s 94 year history the two have faced each other as ranked opponents.
South Carolina, picked to finish last in the 2023-2024 SEC Preseason Media Poll, enters Neville Arena tied for first place in the conference. The Gamecocks have won their last seven SEC contests, and sit at 9-2.
Head coach Lamont Paris has transformed his team from a 4-14 record in SEC play last year, to a team with already nine conference wins under their belt this season.
“It would be hard to think of anyone else that would be coach of the year in our league,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said regarding Paris. “He and his staff have done a tremendous job of rebuilding and putting together a really, really competitive roster.”
The Gamecocks are highlighted by physical guard play, and have three players averaging double figures in scoring. Junior guard Meechie Johnson averages 14.1 points per game, but after a hot start to the season, has cooled off considerably. Johnson has scored just 26 total points in his last five games, but has shown that he is able to score at a high rate.
Another guard, senior Ta’Lon Cooper, has also been instrumental to South Carolina’s success. While Cooper only averages 10.2 points, he has shown up in big games. Cooper put up 20 against Kentucky and 18 at Tennessee to lead his team to the win in both of those matchups.
For the Tigers, they will continue to rely on 6-foot-10 junior Johni Broome. Broome was bothered by the length of Florida in the loss last Saturday, but Pearl plans to remain focused on getting the ball inside.
“We’re going to play through our best players,” Pearl said. “Johni [Broome] is clearly one of our best players and we’ll continue to play through him.”
This game marks the beginning of one of the most crucial weeks in the season for the Tigers. Being one game back of first in the SEC, and playing two ranked teams at home with just seven games remaining in the regular season, the importance of this game is not lost on coach Pearl.
“If we want to win the [SEC] championship, we have to beat South Carolina tomorrow,” Pearl said. “It’s pretty simple.”
The ranked matchup between the Tigers and the Gamecocks will tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday evening. Radio coverage will come from the Auburn Sports Network, and TV coverage will air on SEC Network.
