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Auburn will be fully healthy on Saturday when it hosts Alabama.
That was the expectation, based on reporting throughout the day on Friday. But it was confirmed Friday night with the release of the pregame availability report from the SEC. The top-ranked Tigers didn’t list anyone on the report, confirming that guard Denver Jones will make his return to the lineup after missing a game earlier this week.
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl told reporters at a media availability earlier on Friday that Jones would practice and Auburn’s staff would monitor “how he reacts to the load.” According to Thamel, things appear to be trending toward a return.
Jones injured the ankle during Auburn’s win over Kentucky on March 1. He was officially listed as a gametime decision ahead of the Texas A&M game. He warmed up during the pregame but was eventually ruled out.
With appearances in 29 of Auburn’s 30 games this season, Jones has averaged 10.7 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.0 rebounds. He’s third in minutes (26.9 per game) and is Auburn’s best 3-point shooter at 43.1% on the season.
Freshman forward Derrion Reid is officially listed as out for Alabama. Head coach Nate Oats told reporters on Friday he didn’t expect Reid to play in the game.
Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
