Auburn and Alabama to play first game between No. 1 and No. 2 in SEC history

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Bruce Pearl

The basketball version of the Alabama-Auburn rivalry has heated up as both programs have risen into national prominence.

The Tigers and Crimson Tide have become regulars in the AP Top 25 and each has made a trip to the Final Four in the past five years, including Alabama’s first trip last year.

Auburn and Alabama will take perhaps the biggest step in the basketball rivalry when they’ll make Southeastern Conference history as the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in league history.

Auburn (20-3, 9-1 SEC) has been the nation’s top-ranked program for five straight weeks. Not even a loss could derail the Tigers’ stay at the top; they were still No. 1 in the poll despite losing to No. 3 Florida.

Alabama (20-3, 9-1) was the preseason No. 2 team and has remained in the top 10 all season. The Crimson Tide moved back up to No. 2 after stretching their win streak to six.

After three straight weeks as the unanimous No. 1, Auburn received 34 first-place points in the poll and Alabama had 23.

Auburn plays at Vanderbilt and Alabama is at Texas before the showdown in Tuscaloosa.

The last game between the top two teams in the AP was No. 1 Gonzaga’s 83-63 win over No. 2 UCLA in 2022.

More SEC games

The SEC has a nation-high nine ranked teams and five in the top 10, so it’s no surprise the week has key games between ranked teams.

No. 22 Mississippi State may have the toughest road of anyone in the conference, hosting No. 3 Florida and then at No. 19 Mississippi for a rivalry rematch. The Bulldogs won the first meeting 84-81 in overtime on Jan. 18, but that game was in Starkville. This game will be in Oxford, where the Rebels and their fans will be looking for payback.

Florida could have staked a claim for No. 1 after taking down Auburn, but had to settle for its highest ranking since reaching No. 1 in 2013-14.

“Rankings are tricky because is it who is playing the best at this exact moment? Is it the best résumé?” Gators coach Todd Golden said “There’s a lot of different…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/auburn-alabama-play-first-game-161630718.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2025-02-11 16:16:00

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