“Eleven years in the past once I bought to Auburn, this recreation mattered across the state. On Saturday, it issues around the globe.”
Bruce Pearl couldn’t have summed it up higher as his No. 1-ranked Auburn Tigers get set to tackle No. 2 Alabama at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
The implications are infinite in basketball’s Iron Bowl, which would be the first 1 vs. 2 assembly not solely between these two packages, however within the historical past of the SEC Convention. That is the kind of recreation that may determine who finally ends up being the No. 1 general seed within the NCAA Event. It is a recreation that may permit the winner to seek out separation on the prime of the SEC regular-season title race, with each groups getting into at 10-1 within the league. And let’s not overlook that solely 157 miles separate the 2 bitter rivals, with this recreation having bragging rights, recruiting implications and rather more.
Coleman Coliseum goes to be rocking with a number of All-People on show between Auburn’s Nationwide Participant of the 12 months candidate, Johni Broome, and Alabama’s famous person level guard, Mark Sears. And for a viewer, that is basketball nirvana. These two groups are No. 1 and a pair of in KenPom offensive effectivity.
“I feel this basketball recreation could also be the most effective recreation in all of school basketball for your complete yr,” Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats instructed FOX Sports activities. “Now, relying on what occurs on this recreation, then the subsequent three weeks, we shut the common season with a rematch at Auburn on March 8. We’ll see how every part shakes out. However actually, it is 1 vs. 2, however relying on what you take a look at, it may be argued as 1 vs. 1 since we’re on the prime of the coaches ballot.
“Look, Auburn’s higher within the analytics websites than us. And we all know it. They’ve solely bought two losses, and one among them simply got here extra just lately than us. So, I do not disagree with the AP Ballot in any respect, however the good factor is it is not like old style soccer the place you get to let the voters determine. We truly get to determine on the court docket on Saturday.”
For these two groups to be representing the SEC on this 1 vs. 2 showdown could be very becoming. Auburn and Alabama have accounted for six of the final eight championships between the convention match and common season.
“The championships within the SEC are working by the state of Alabama,” stated Pearl, who joined FOX Sports activities by cellphone for an unique interview from Auburn’s group bus on Friday afternoon. “I feel we each helped one another elevate each other’s program to get thus far. Nate Oats is without doubt one of the greatest coaches in school basketball, plain and easy. I feel if you’re recruiting and recruits know that Alabama is our rival, and Alabama’s recruits know that Auburn is their rival, it elevates us. To some extent, Kentucky and Tennessee used to profit from that. Duke and Carolina clearly do. Michigan and Michigan State do too.
“Have a look at the maths: we have gained 4 SEC championships within the final seven years. That is what this rivalry has change into. It has risen to a degree that is been pretty much as good as any showdown within the sport lately.”
FOX Sports activities caught up with each head coaches forward of Saturday’s heavyweight conflict.
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl:
How particular is it to be on this stage on Saturday?
“That is what each coach and each participant desires about. The chance to play towards the most effective groups on the most important stage with championship implications on the road. It is why you’re employed so laborious all yr lengthy, to arrange and put your self to get a chance like this.”
You weren’t included within the AP preseason prime 10. Proper now, your group is 22-2 on the season and stayed at No. 1, even after a loss final weekend to Florida. When do you know this group could possibly be extraordinary?
“Actually, after we performed Houston. And I do know that was simply the second recreation of the yr, however to go down there and play an amazing group and an amazing coach, to deal with that massive second, that elevated my expectations for this yr’s group. And naturally, we go to Maui and win the match, we’re aggressive at Duke, after which we go two months with out shedding a recreation. In my thoughts, we have misplaced two video games [Duke and Florida] to a pair of potential Last 4 groups, and we’re taking part in one other one on Saturday.”
I do not ever wish to say shedding is an efficient factor, but it surely’s fascinating that you simply go from final Saturday to this one the place you fell to Florida, and now you’ve got bought Alabama. What did you’re taking from the loss to the Gators that it’s a must to alter to beat the Crimson Tide?
“Nicely, I do not assume shedding to Florida … you recognize, you get the ‘effectively, a minimum of we misplaced the sport right now of the yr.’ Like, what, you assume that is the one recreation we will lose?! I am glad we bought that one out of the way in which. … That is this league. I feel Florida performed nice, they made photographs, they have been extra energetic than we have been, and we appeared a step gradual. Nicely, get this: Alabama is even sooner than them. They play on the No. 1 tempo of any high-major. That is the leading-scoring group in school basketball in Alabama towards the No. 1 effectivity group in Auburn. And so each groups are actually good offensively. We will play quick, however we do not wish to play loopy quick.”
With that being stated, how a lot have you ever preached to your group that protection would be the distinction on this recreation?
“Fully. Protection and rebounding are going to be the entire distinction. Strive as we would, Florida put 90 on us. Alabama has scored 100 factors seven occasions this yr, so yeah, we have got to be on our recreation. We have to make performs on the defensive finish.”
To that finish, if you’re watching Alabama, what’s it that permits them to be the nation’s highest scoring offense? What considerations you essentially the most with having to protect them?
“They have 4 or 5 ideas which can be very laborious to protect given their personnel and the way in which they execute them. So it is virtually like, ‘effectively, we will do that, however then they will take that or if you happen to take one thing else away, they will simply counter it.’ That is the mark of a well-put-together offense. You are damned if you happen to do and also you’re damned if you happen to do not.”
Who’s your tone-setter on the defensive finish?
“I feel Dylan Cardwell is the most effective defensive participant in school basketball. He would not get talked about lots, however he can guard 1-5, and he’ll have an enormous presence. It’s going to take all 5 guys being actually linked. That is completely not an offensive group that you would be able to beat with one or two guys defending. We’d like all 5 to be elite on that finish of the ground.”
What is the distinction between your first assembly with Alabama as Auburn’s head coach and this one?
“That is arguably for an SEC championship. That is for a No. 1 general seed. That is for the entire bragging rights. What extra may you ask for? Eleven years in the past, it was a enjoyable rivalry for us to speak about in our state. On Saturday, it is the highest story within the sports activities world. We love every part about it.”
Once you test into the lodge tonight, do you get a foul look from somebody in Tuscaloosa? Do you sense the rivalry?
“No, no (laughter). I do not know what that lodge will really feel like tonight, however this is what I do know: this recreation means extra to our gamers. It means extra to our followers. It means extra to our scholar our bodies. It is every part for lots of people. I simply hope that on Saturday, it is a good recreation and a clear recreation.”
Alabama head coach Nate Oats:
At first, I do know you might have quite a lot of targets and I understand how a lot you wish to win a nationwide championship. However if you happen to may deal with the right here and now for a second, to have a 1 vs. 2 rivalry showdown in Tuscaloosa with the eyes of the nation watching, what does this imply?
“It is thrilling and it is fairly cool to see the extent that basketball has reached within the SEC as a complete. For the league to be pretty much as good as it’s this yr, and for us and Auburn to be tied on the prime, with us being in the identical state and assembly one another in an enormous rivalry recreation, it is particular. After I bought right here, Auburn had simply come off a Last 4 look and we had some work to do to catch our in-state rival. And it is type of been back-and-forth. In case you depend the SEC common season and match champions, six out of the final eight have been gained by the 2 of us.
“Bruce has clearly achieved an unbelievable job taking them from the place he bought them. That program wasn’t superb in any respect when he took it over, so for him to take it to the extent they’re at, making a Last 4 in 2019 and having the potential to make one other, it is one thing. After I took over our program in 2019, it was not practically as unhealthy off as Auburn was when Bruce took over there. We had some expertise, however we nonetheless needed to construct it from the place it was. So, for each of us to now be sitting at No. 1 and a pair of within the nation, taking part in for lots at stake – an SEC championship, seeding within the NCAA Event and extra, it is unimaginable. It is all the time been a rivalry, however there’s a lot extra at stake now.”
For the reason that Jan. 14 house loss to Ole Miss, you’ve got reeled off seven straight wins and you’ve got scored 85 or extra factors in all however one recreation on the streak whereas posting 100 or extra in three video games. What has clicked on your group?
“You understand what, with the Ole Miss recreation, I did not assume we got here in ready for that recreation. I instructed our group that we simply weren’t able to play and we did not should win. The group that deserved to win that recreation gained that recreation. Our preparation, our time within the health club and even exterior of follow, issues weren’t the place they wanted to be. There have been quite a lot of issues that, if we wish to be a championship-level group, wanted to vary. And I feel they answered the bell after that.
“Our guys are within the health club much more. We should make photographs now that we did not should make earlier than, when guys weren’t working as laborious as they wanted to. Ole Miss did play a switching protection and I felt we did not assault that very effectively, however I additionally did not assume our guys ready to do it in follow. So, I feel follow habits have gotten higher in follow and out of doors of follow. You understand, our protection is not the place we wish it to be, however I do assume our protection has improved. In case you’re working extra off misses, it is lots simpler on your offense. So, we have upped the depth degree in quite a lot of areas for the reason that Ole Miss recreation.”
Defensively, who’s bringing their lunch pail day by day?
“Chris Youngblood, for positive. After which Mohamed Dioubate is hard each night time out. He is bought to arrange a little bit bit higher schematics sensible. He positively brings toughness each night time. However I’d say Youngblood and Grant Nelson. These two deliver it each night time. Grant bought a little bit banged up and wasn’t the place he wanted to be. However actually, Mark Sears has been good for the reason that LSU recreation. He is been practising considerably tougher and he is taking part in tougher. His solely challenge proper now could be turnovers. If he will get the turnovers discovered, he’d be taking part in the most effective basketball on each side of the ball in his school profession. So, hopefully we will get that discovered actual quickly.”
You benched Mark Sears within the second half of the 80-73 win over LSU again on Jan. 25. What transpired after that recreation?
“We had a gathering to debate what the problems have been and extra of it stemmed from the truth that he is our greatest participant, and we’d like him to arrange to play effectively by practising laborious. I imply, there’s quite a lot of duty that comes with all of what is being the most effective participant on a very good group. You lead the group in minutes, in shot makes an attempt and a lot extra, and there is going to be quite a lot of duty that comes with that. And once we’re tied with an LSU group at halftime that all of us really feel we’re considerably higher than, any person’s bought to take some possession and there should be some modifications made.
“We’re actually simply attempting to encourage guys to offer higher effort, and we simply wanted to deal with it a little bit bit higher. No person desires Mark to play unhealthy. All of us need him to play higher. We simply needed him to play a little bit tougher and take some extra possession of how the group performs, not simply how he performs. It had nothing to do with the truth that he was taking pictures 0-for-5 within the recreation. It had extra to do with follow habits, effort through the recreation, after which response to not beginning the second half. It was a shock to him. You’ll be able to warn individuals all you need, however you do not know how they’ll reply. Within the second, perhaps it wasn’t what we have been all on the lookout for, however after the sport, I believed he was actually good celebrating together with his teammates and within the days after, I feel he has practiced as laborious as he ever has in his profession. And in consequence, he is taking part in lots higher exterior of among the turnover points. However I feel he is taking part in the most effective basketball of his profession proper now.”
You went 16-15 within the 2019-20 season, your first on the helm. Clearly, the switch portal wasn’t what it’s now and the power to take over a program and actually flip a roster over was not as a lot of a factor as it’s immediately. But when I instructed you in April 2020 that lower than 5 years later you would be No. 2 within the nation and internet hosting the No. 1 group within the nation on a Saturday afternoon, what would you might have stated?
“Oh man. ‘We have got quite a lot of work to do to get there!
“We have been one recreation over .500 that yr. Recruiting went very well to get us there, that is what I’d have stated. You could not flip a roster shortly again then, however we knew the system we needed to place in place. We did not essentially have the personnel to do it, however we put within the system anyway. Quite a lot of coaches say they’ll play quick and play fashionable basketball with a number of 3s, however solely once they get their roster proper. Nicely, 4 years after they have the job, if they do not have the roster proper, it is laborious to recruit to that till you present that you simply’re truly doing it. We simply put it in and we had guys that have been conventional post-up bigs taking part in out on the perimeter.
“We turned Alex Reese into a special participant and he is now with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. No person thought that man was going to play within the NBA. There was some expertise on the roster, but it surely simply wasn’t constructed the way in which we needed to play a lot in any respect. Now we had Kira Lewis and Jaden Shackleford, and Herb Jones was in a solid nearly all of the yr. We knew we needed to recruit guys to suit it. But it surely’s simply, at that time, it is not possible to flip a roster that shortly. So, we put it in and we endured some losses. Possibly we would have had just a few extra wins in the event that they performed much more like they did beforehand. However that is not how we needed to play. It isn’t what we needed recruits to see, and it is not what we needed our present gamers doing.
“I feel if we would have gone on the market to only gained video games in 12 months 1 and that is it, we’d not have had the 12 months 2 that we had once we gained the SEC common season and match championships and reached the Candy 16. Sure guys would not have recognized to play within the system in 12 months 2 had we achieved one thing completely totally different in 12 months 1. All of these guys needed to study the system and find out how we play. Once you add the proper items to it, it went lots higher.”
What about Auburn stands out to you essentially the most?
“The quantity of fellows that may make powerful photographs. I imply, we listed off all of the totally different gamers’ excessive scoring performances this season, and you’ve got a number of guys on that group which have scored within the mid to excessive 20s, if not 30s at occasions. Shoot, simply final recreation, Chaney Johnson got here in off the bench and had 20 factors. Denver Jones scored 21. It wasn’t Johni Broome or Chad Baker-Mazara. It was others. They’ve so many guys who can try this in any given recreation.
“All people’s going to speak about Johni Broome and that he deserves to win nationwide participant of the yr, and rightly so. He deserves the love, however they have a number of guys that may go for 20 in any recreation this yr. You’ll be able to’t simply lock into stopping one or two gamers. There are such a lot of totally different guys that may rating it, and if you happen to double Broome, he can go it at a excessive degree. Then, swiftly, you are coping with 40% 3-point shooters. They usually additionally flip you over, they rating off turnovers they usually get offensive boards. So, their first-shot offense is basically good, however they’re additionally scoring off turnovers and in second-chance factors. That is why their effectivity numbers are so excessive. So, we have got to get rid of the factors off turnovers and second-chance factors as a lot as potential.”
What would you like your ambiance to be on Saturday night time?
“It is a rivalry recreation. The ambiance is all the time good once we play them, even once we weren’t good in my first yr and we beat a top-five Auburn group. I need it to be a high-basketball IQ crowd, understanding when to cheer and the proper stuff to cheer about. I do not wish to be about hating Auburn and being towards them. I imply, I am positive there will probably be a few of that due to the character of this rivalry, but it surely must be an informed basketball crowd that cheers successful performs that perceive what it takes to win at a excessive degree. You understand, the hustle performs, the blue-collar performs, the defensive stops. We’d like it to be loud to will us to stops, and you recognize what, I feel we have got a reasonably good basketball fan base. I feel we simply have to deal with cheering successful performs on Saturday night time.”
Once we’re speaking 15-20 years in the past and No. 1 vs. No. 2 is occurring, it was most likely involving Kansas or perhaps an version of Duke vs. Carolina. However that is an SEC recreation and your remaining seven league video games are all towards ranked opponents. What does Saturday’s recreation and stage say about what has been the most effective convention efficiency in a single season that we have ever seen?
“You have to give quite a lot of credit score to [SEC Commissioner] Greg Sankey, the SEC, and the entire athletic administrators within the league for placing an emphasis on getting basketball as much as the extent. Now, we have got an extended method to go on that as a result of SEC soccer has been excellent for a very long time, however a minimum of for this season, we’re at that degree. And I feel there’s quite a lot of credit score that belongs to the coaches who’re scheduling appropriately. After I first bought right here, quite a lot of the groups in our convention have been placing collectively weak non-conference schedules, to place it mildly. However now, they’re bringing it to those big-time video games and getting wins.
“Missouri beat Kansas and Dennis [Gates] has achieved an amazing job. Buzz Williams is scheduling considerably tougher than what it was once I bought into the league. Bruce [Pearl] scheduled the hardest non-conference schedule within the historical past of Auburn Basketball. So I feel it is the precedence placed on basketball by the league, the extent of coaches which have been fired, the job every one of many coaches is doing, and we’re all pushing one another to make one another higher. I imply shoot, there is no straightforward video games on this league. We misplaced to Ole Miss they usually barely survived previous South Carolina, who hasn’t even gained a recreation in our league. That is a troublesome out at South Carolina, it’s. There isn’t any straightforward video games. All people did their job within the non-conference.
“We went 14-2 within the ACC Problem. After I was rising up in Wisconsin, the ACC and Huge East have been king. The Huge Ten garnered consideration too, however the SEC wasn’t what everyone dreamed and hoped for. I used to be watching the ACC and Huge East each single night time. But it surely’s gotten to the purpose now the place I feel it is an thrilling model of basketball. We’re main the nation in scoring, and we have led the nation in scoring the final two years. And different groups in our league are taking part in entertaining types too.
John Fanta is a nationwide school basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in quite a lot of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Community to offering commentary on The Discipline of 68 Media Community. Comply with him at @John_Fanta.
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