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Predicting the rest of Auburn basketball’s 2024-25 schedule
By David Wasson
Published:
The Auburn men’s basketball team enters the final weekend of February as the No. 1 team in the country according to everyone except a single stray AP media voter. But there is a huge difference between February and March.
Because in college basketball, March is really all that matters.
With that in mind, let’s break down how the remainder of the regular season looks for Auburn as the Tigers aim for an SEC championship, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a potential national championship run:
Saturday, Feb. 22: Georgia at Auburn
Last time: Auburn 70, Georgia 68 on Jan. 18
The skinny: The Tigers didn’t have Johni Broome last time around, as his ankle still wasn’t right after turning it against South Carolina. Auburn still had enough juice to overcome the Bulldogs in Athens, as Tahaad Pettiford hit 5 of his 7 3-point attempts and Georgia missed multiple attempts to tie it at the end. Georgia may be struggling this season, but forward Asa Newell is a potentially lethal weapon anytime and anywhere. Broome is back in full effect for this one, and being at home on The Plains should be enough for Auburn to earn a series sweep.
Prediction: Auburn 76, Georgia 66
Wednesday, Feb. 26: Auburn vs. Ole Miss
Last time: Auburn 92, Ole Miss 82 on Feb. 1
The skinny: Another classic example of “man it is tough to win in the SEC,” Auburn needed to play the full 40 in Oxford to escape the then-No. 23 Rebels. Broome was the man again that night, dropping 20 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. It also helped that the Tigers shot 14-for-28 from 3-point distance and 18-for 23-from the line — including 6-straight in the final minute to remain unbeaten. The Rebels boast 5 double-digit scorers led by guard Sean Pedulla (14.6 ppg), but no one Ole Miss player grabs more than 5.7 rebounds per outing. Figure more of that in this one…
Prediction: Auburn 88, Ole Miss 75
Saturday, March 1: Auburn at Kentucky
Last time: Only meeting this season
The skinny: The second of 4-straight games against ranked SEC teams, and on top of it being a nightmare trip to Rupp Arena. The last time Auburn was at Rupp? The Tigers got torched 86-54 in February 2023. Wildcats guard Otega Oweh is capable of a monster night at any moment, and guard Koby Brea is a walking torch from the 3-point stripe (44.9 percent) but Kentucky simply doesn’t have an answer for a double-double machine like Broome. As the national player of the year candidate goes, Auburn goes…
Prediction: Auburn 71, Kentucky 68
Tuesday, March 4: Auburn at Texas A&M
Last time: Only meeting this season
The skinny: The second of 3 consecutive stern tests awaits in College Station in the form of the No. 7 Aggies – a team plenty capable of knocking off the Tigers. This could have been an even bigger challenge had not Mississippi State seemingly cracked the Texas A&M code on Feb. 18. The Bulldogs poured it on in the second half in that one, outscoring the Aggies 40-23 in the final 20 minutes. Watch out for the 1-2 combo of Aggies guards Wade Taylor IV (14.9 ppg) and Zhuric Phelps (14.4 ppg) to get hot, and expect another 40-minute slugfest for Auburn in this one.
Prediction: Auburn 78, Texas A&M 73
Saturday, March 8: Auburn vs. Alabama
Last time: Auburn 94, Alabama 85 on Feb. 15
The skinny: The Tigers and Crimson Tide played just the fifth No. 1 vs. No. 2 intrastate regular season game in history in Tuscaloosa just 3 weeks prior, and this one could offer even more fireworks. Broome was the man yet again for the Tigers that day, popping for 19 points and 14 rebounds. But the Tigers also had 4 more players reach double-digit scoring: Denver Jones scored 16 points, Chad Baker-Mazara and Miles Kelly added 15 points apiece, Chaney Johnson had 14 and Tahaad Pettiford chipped in 13. Alabama has to run the gantlet of its own just to get to this point, taking on top-10 SEC foes Tennessee and Florida before heading to the Plains. Can Bruce Pearl solve Nate Oats twice in a single season, or will Round 2 go to Alabama?
Prediction: Alabama 99, Auburn 98 in overtime
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
