The No. 2 ranked Auburn Tigers on a 14-game winning streak coming in take on the Kentucky Wildcats in a highly anticipated battle between the two highest-ranked SEC teams in the country.
TV schedule: Saturday, Jan. 22 – 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
Arena: Auburn Arena – Auburn, AL
Arguably the No. 2 ranked Auburn Tigers are the best team in the country at the moment and are riding on a 14-game winning streak. The team has the arguable number one pick in Jabari Smith. Nothing seems like it could go wrong for the Tigers in what could possibly be the program’s best season ever.
Besides a neutral court loss to UConn earlier in the season, the Tigers have not lost a single game this season and there are a few reasons why. They are first off one of the best defensive teams in the country, leading the country in blocks per game (8.3), and 13th in steals per game(9.8), and coming in as the eighth-ranked team according to KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency.
In terms of players, there is no lack of talent on the roster. The team has four players averaging double-digit points in Smith, Walker Kessler, Wendell Green, and K.D. Johnson. As aforementioned, Jabari Smith Jr is a freak talent on the court, leading the team in both points (15.8), second in rebounds (6.3), and third in assists (2.1).
Kessler has been a nice pick-up as well from North Carolina, while Green came over from Eastern Kentucky and Johnson over from Georgia, have all played a pivotal role in having the Tigers lead the SEC and a Final Four contender.
For Kentucky, the Wildcats are no slouch either. While Auburn dominates defensively, Kentucky is just as dominant on the offensive end. At the time, Kentucky is 7th in the country in scoring (82.9 PPG), ninth in field goal percentage (49.8%), 15th in assists per game (17.2) and dominate on the boards at fifth in the country (42.4 RPG). This has got the team to the fourth-ranked offensive efficiency according to KenPom.
The Wildcats -as always- do not lack talent on their roster either. Their main guy has been easily Oscar Tshiebwe leading the team in points (16.1) but also leading the country in rebounds (14.8). Then of course guard play in Tyty Washington has been really good this year as well, as he is second in points (14.2) and Sahvir Wheeler leading in assists with 7.1 per game.
When it boils down to it, both teams are the cream of the crop in the SEC – and the country. The teams have two of the top coaches in the country in Bruce Pearl and John Calipari. Both have made final four runs and are some of the best minds in all of the sport. It will be a battle between an elite offense vs an elite defense.
However, at home is such a big advantage for any team especially in the SEC. Auburn’s offense is no slouch either, coming in a 15th on KenPom and averaging 80.4 points per game. I think Auburn’s offense is just better than Kentucky’s defense which will prove favorable for the Tigers. I do think it will be a close tough matchup but have Auburn coming away with the win, staying in the lead in the SEC.