Top-ranked Auburn has clinched a double bye in the upcoming Southeastern Conference tournament and stands one victory away from clinching at least a share of the SEC regular-season crown.
But that’s not the only prize of major significance available when the Tigers battle Kentucky on Saturday afternoon at Lexington, Ky.
Auburn (26-2, 14-1 SEC) has set its sights on winning at Kentucky for just the third time in program history. The Tigers have lost 20 consecutive visits to Lexington since notching a 53-52 upset of then-No. 1 Kentucky on Jan. 9, 1988.
Overall, the Tigers are 2-51 in Lexington, with the other victory coming in 1983.
“The reason why we have not won there is because, historically, Kentucky’s been the best team in the league,” said Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, who is 0-6 in Lexington during his 11 seasons.
“And historically, we haven’t been one of the best teams in the league over a long period of time. But we’re trying to put a dent in that right now.”
Auburn has won its last five games and holds a stellar 7-1 record on the road. Also hanging in the distance is the school record of 30 wins, set in 2018-19 when the Tigers eventually lost to Virginia in the Final Four.
But first up is beating Kentucky and clinching a share of the regular-season crown.
“I’d say I’m proud of this team and this staff for all the work we’ve put in,” said star center Johni Broome, a National Player of the Year candidate. “It’s finally showing a little bit. Job’s not finished.
“It’d be good to clinch it at Kentucky. Obviously, they’re a historic program.”
Broome leads Auburn in scoring (18.8 points per game), rebounding (11.0) and blocked shots (66 total). Chad Baker-Mazara ranks second in scoring at 12.7 per game and has a team-best 33 steals.
Kentucky (19-9, 8-7) has won four of its last six games and shares seventh in the SEC with Ole Miss. The Wildcats are 14-2 at home.
Kentucky is coming off a solid 83-82 road win over Oklahoma in which Otega Oweh knocked down the winning shot with 6.4 seconds left.
Oweh scored the Wildcats’ final 18 points and finished with a career-high 28 points against his former team.
“I mean, it’s a great feeling coming to your old space, getting a win,” Oweh said. “As a basketball player, it’s just cool to go in there, to have that.”
First-year Kentucky coach Mark Pope was thrilled to see the resiliency of his team.
“I do think our guys captured or had an experience that they will call back on when we get in this, in a very similar game,” Pope said. “And so I love that. I love that we have it in our pocket.”
Wildcats point guard Lamont Butler (shoulder) returned from a three-game absence and had seven points and six assists in 20 minutes at Oklahoma before fouling out.
Jaxson Robinson (wrist) returned from a four-game absence and had seven points in 12 first-half minutes before being forced to sit out in the second half when the wrist flared up.
Oweh leads Kentucky with a 16.1 scoring average. Robinson is second in scoring (13.0) and 3-pointers (62), while Butler is third in scoring (12.3) and leads the Wildcats in 4.7 assists per game.
Koby Brea paces the Wildcats with 71 treys.
–Field Level Media
