ATHENS, Ga. - Top Ranked Auburn (16-1, 4-0) visits the No. 23 Georgia Bulldogs (14-3, 2-2) in what is now a top 25 matchup with the Bulldogs earning their first top-25 credit from the AP for the first time since 2011. What was once a write-off game for the Tigers is now set to be a tough road test.
Auburn is one of three teams in the SEC that remain 2-0 on the road in the conference this season, but Auburn's wins haven’t come without their struggles. The Tigers have won their two conference road games by a combined eight points, both against unranked teams, making the trip to Stegeman one many college basketball fans have earmarked for an upset alert.
To further the shades of doubt for Auburn fans the Tigers will likely be without Johni Broome, the All-American was injured against South Carolina and missed the team rout of Mississippi State.
Without the Wooden Award contender, the Tigers must look to others to create offense and continue their stout defense. One Tiger to look out for Saturday afternoon will be Chad Baker-Mazzara, the forward who had 20 points in the blowout win last time out against Mississippi State. It will be crucial for Auburn to walk out of Athens with a win.
On the defensive side, the likely matchup for Baker-Mazzara is Georgia's outstanding freshman Asa Newell, the five-star, several-time freshman of the week in the SEC averaging nearly 16 points a game making the biggest threat to Auburn. Newell can shoot but thrives on cutting to the lane and scoring inside.
Georgia boasts an incredibly lopsided free throw margin at home, making the cleanliness of Auburn’s Defending important but passive defense is not an option Georgia is very prone to turnover averaging just under 14 a game, if Auburn can pressure with clean defense they will likely cruise by the Dawgs and any challenge they can offer.
Even without Broome the Tigers are the best team in the country by almost every metric, the projected number one overall seed has incredible depth aside from Mazzara the tiers can look to anyone of Denver Jones, Miles Kelley, and Chaney Johnson who all average over 10 points per game. Off the bench, Auburn will look to the talents of Freshman Tahaad Pettford who averages 11 points a game and can put on a show on the fast break with electrifying dunks.
Auburn’s depth separates itself from other teams with every player's ability to change and impact the game Auburn does not need to hide anyone in the corner on offense or have weak matchups on defense.
Auburn and Georgia face off on the hardwood on Saturday afternoon with tipoff at noon central time, streaming on the SECN in conjunction with the Auburn Sports Network.
