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Maybe you’re a casual basketball fan. Maybe you haven’t really paid much attention to the early portion of the college basketball season. Maybe football’s gotten in the way.
That’s fine, but it’s time to shift your attention to the hardwood, because today’s game in Birmingham against Middle Tennessee is probably the toughest game Auburn will play before SEC action begins after Christmas.
The Blue Raiders are one of the best defensive teams in the country, and ranked 13th in the RPI coming into the weekend. Kermit Davis has put together a team that revolves around the scoring of guard Nick King, who’s posted over 24 points per contest so far this year. Middle Tennessee’s also gotten into the SEC flavor in recent weeks, winning its last two games over Vanderbilt (66-63) and Ole Miss (77-58).
For Auburn, we’ll see if Mustapha Heron returns from back spasms that’s kept him under close watch all week, and we’ll also see if Desean Murray can continue to rebound at the Charles Barkley-esque pace that he’s been on so far this season. Despite Murray’s size at just 6’3, he’s been one of the best rebounding power forwards in the conference in the early going this year.
“I’m motivated every game....because I’ve always been doubted.” 6-3 @desean_murray, smallest power forward in the @SEC, & @AuburnMBB play Middle Tennessee Sat. at 5 p.m. in the B’ham Jam. pic.twitter.com/eqKMUMH41n
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) December 16, 2017
And obviously, Auburn will rely on the volume scoring that we’ve seen from Bryce Brown all year, and the added input of Jared Harper, who’s been great recently as well.
Huge game today in Birmingham, 5 pm CST tipoff for the Tigers and Blue Raiders... War Eagle!
HOW TO WATCH AND LISTEN
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Auburn Sports Network