Game Preview and Open Thread - Auburn vs UConn

Exactly one year ago, Auburn was up in the great white Northeast as they met UConn at the XL Center. Exactly one year ago, the Tigers came away with a 70-67 overtime victory over the Huskies on their home floor. Today, Auburn will try to duplicate that feat with much more at stake than last year.

Auburn’s got the best record in the SEC.

Auburn’s got an eight-game winning streak.

Auburn’s trying to continue the best start for the basketball team in fifteen years.

If the Tigers win, they’ll almost assuredly finish the non-conference portion of the schedule at 12-1 since the final game comes next Saturday against Cornell at home. After that, the beginning of the SEC schedule will tell us how Auburn will really fare in the league since two of the better teams in terms of RPI will be on the docket in Tennessee and Arkansas.

But today, it’s a national championship-winning coach in Kevin Ollie and his UConn team at the Auburn Arena.

UConn enters today’s game at 7-4, with those four losses coming to Michigan State and Arkansas in blowouts, and to Syracuse and Arizona State in games that weren’t all that close either. They’ve certainly been much more tested than Auburn has, and they’ll begin AAC play against Wichita State next weekend.

The Huskies’ offense runs through five guards, with Jalen Adams being the top guy to watch, averaging over 18 points per game.

Remember Jalen Adams?

That was him as a freshman. He’s the leader of the team now, and he’s joined by Terry Larrier and Christian Vital as guys hitting double digits every time out. However, none of the percentages have been good for UConn in the early going this season. They rank near the bottom of the country in field goal percentage (321st), three-point percentage (298th), and points per game (274th). This Auburn team can score in bunches and could make it difficult if they can take care of another big run early in the game to put the Huskies behind the eight ball.

Big game today on the Plains, so if you’re in town, you’d better be at the Arena. If not, here’s how to tune in.

HOW TO WATCH AND LISTEN - Auburn vs UConn - 1:30 pm CST - Auburn, AL

TV: ESPN2

Radio: Auburn Sports Network