College basketball weekend roundup: Auburn confirms status of best team in the country

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In the unpredictability that is the SEC, one team reigns supreme above all.

It was ugly and brutal, but in the battle of heavyweights, Auburn got past Tennessee 53-51 in one of the most-anticipated games of the college basketball season. And it lived up to the billing.

Those that love offense probably had a hard time watching what transpired inside Neville Arena, where every single point was earned in a physical 40 minutes; both teams each shot 31% from the field and less than 20% from the 3-point line. While far from pretty − including some questionable decisions from the referees − it truly was two of the best teams in the country showing what makes them such stalwarts.

Does Saturday’s game determine who will win the SEC or become national champion? No, but what the contest did prove is Auburn is indeed the best team in the country. It’s been three weeks into the conference slate, and every team tasted defeat in the talent-heavy league − except Auburn. A perfect 6-0 start in the SEC likely couldn’t be done by any other team in the country, nor could a 11-1 record in Quad 1 games.

If this was the first time the majority of the country saw the Tigers for the first time now that college football is over, it was a solid introduction for player of the year candidate Johni Broome. Questionable to play after suffering a left ankle injury two week injury, the center didn’t looked hobbled against Tennessee with a 16-point, 13-rebound performance for his 11th double-double of the season.

Now through the first major test since the start of 2025, the Tigers will be tested again with Mississippi and Florida in the next two weeks before another possible game of the season against rival Alabama on Feb. 15.

Will Auburn lose another game? Probably. But make no mistake: Auburn has a firm grasp on top of the sport as we close in February, and the Tigers lead the top storylines from the past weekend of hoops.

Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (44) celebrates a play during his team’s game…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/college-basketball-weekend-roundup-auburn-110727279.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2025-01-27 11:07:00

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