Surging No. 2 Auburn faces SEC challenge vs. Missouri

No. 2 Auburn powered through its daunting nonconference gauntlet while earning victories over four nationally ranked teams: Houston, Iowa State, North Carolina and Purdue.

The Tigers (12-1) are aiming to make another deep NCAA Tournament run.

But first they must endure the Southeastern Conference wars. That challenge begins Saturday when they host Missouri (11-2) in the conference opener for both teams.

Auburn's only loss this season came at then-No. 9 Duke, 84-78, on Dec. 4.

"It was the toughest nonconference schedule in the history of Auburn basketball," coach Bruce Pearl said. "So, I'm very, very proud of our kids. A lot of the games we played were on neutral sites and away from home, so we demonstrated that we can win away from Neville (Arena)."

Auburn defeated Monmouth 87-58 at home on Dec. 30 in its final tune-up game.

"Now, we get ready to start the toughest conference schedule in the history of college basketball," Pearl said. "Like, there's maybe never been a league like this, and it's going to be -- the strong are literally going to be the only ones who survive. Hungry, healthy, humble is the way to get through it.

"Matchups are going to matter. We're going to lose games. But we can't let a loss affect us the next time out. We've got to be beat instead of beating ourselves. But we're healthy and we're ready."

Auburn forward Johni Broome has been a matchup problem for every opponent. The 6-foot-10 forward averages 18.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and a conference-leading 2.6 blocked shots per game.

Pearl has a deep roster of versatile players who can switch on defense. Nine have played all 13 games while averaging between 10.5 and 27.0 minutes -- and five players average in double figures scoring.

Chad Baker-Mazara averages 12.8 points per game on 52.1 percent shooting from the floor and 94 percent shooting from the free-throw line. At 6-foot-7, he is also the team's best on-ball defender.

Freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford averages 11.2 points and 3.1 assists. He is 14-for-14 at the free-throw line.

Missouri's nonconference highlight was its 76-67 upset of then-No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 8. The Tigers also suffered close losses at Memphis (83-75) on Nov. 4 and against Illinois (80-77) on Dec. 22.

During their 82-65 homecourt victory over Alabama State on Dec. 30, guard Caleb Grill scored six points in 11 minutes after missing five games with a neck injury. For the season, Grill averages 12.6 points on 51.1 percent shooting from 3-point range.

"The neck brace, it wasn't my personality," Grill said. "So it was just good to get back out there and be with my teammates and be able to provide an impact on winning the game."

Grill rejoins a playing rotation led by forward Mark Mitchell (13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds per game) and guard Tamar Bates (12.9 ppg). Point guard Anthony Robinson II (10.7 ppg) sat out the last game with an illness, but he should return against Auburn.

Coach Dennis Gates shuffled his lineup through the nonconference games. Missouri has had eight different players lead the team in scoring.

Guard Tony Perkins gained prominence in the last two games while posting 30 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Auburn leads the all-time series 10-6, winning the last four and seven of the last eight.

--Field Level Media