Auburn is hoping to defeat Florida on the road once more.
Last Wednesday, the Tigers secured a commanding victory over their in-state rivals, the Alabama Crimson Tide, with a final score of 99-81 in the Jungle. Looking to climb back into the top 10, they are set to face the Florida Gators in Gainesville this Saturday.
The Gators are coming off a narrow loss to the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, where the final score was 67-66. However, they previously claimed victory at Rupp Arena against the Kentucky Wildcats with a score of 94-91.
In their previous encounter, Auburn emerged victorious against Florida with a close 61-58 win at Neville Arena last season. However, their last visit to Gainesville in the 2021-2022 season ended in disappointment, as they fell to the Gators with a score of 63-62.
Auburn currently shares the top spot in the Southeastern Conference standings with South Carolina and Alabama, while the Gators occupy the sixth position.
With an 8-2 conference record, Auburn’s losses came at the hands of Alabama and Mississippi State in away games. Meanwhile, the Gators hold a 5-4 conference record, experiencing defeats on the road against Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss, and at home against Kentucky.
Following a challenging road trip, where they suffered losses away from home, Auburn bounced back with three consecutive victories against Vanderbilt at home, Ole Miss on the road, and a revenge win against Alabama in the Jungle.
Jaylin Williams, a fifth-year veteran, showcased his skills with a career-high 26 points and six rebounds against Alabama. He also led the Tigers with 16 points in the game against Ole Miss. Another key contributor, Johni Broome, a transfer from Morehead State, had an outstanding performance with 24 points and seven rebounds against Alabama and 15 points and nine rebounds against Ole Miss.
Coach Bruce Pearl is mindful of the Gators’ prowess at home and recognizes the potential challenge. The Gators have only suffered one home loss, and Pearl acknowledges the target on Auburn’s back due to their high ranking. Additionally, the Tigers haven’t secured a road victory against Florida since 1996.
Pearl also highlighted the Gators’ head coach, Todd Golden, a former assistant coach for the Tigers from 2014-2016, now in his second year as the head coach of the Gators.
Auburn is scheduled to face Florida in Gainesville on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 2:30 p.m. CST, with the game broadcasted on the SEC Network.
