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You all watched it. Many of you were there. Everyone’s had to have heard by now.
AUBURN BASKETBALL IS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD.
Check out all the highlights from the Tigers W over No. 22 Arkansas.
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) January 7, 2018
Don't miss your chance to see the Tigers in action vs Ole Miss in Auburn Arena on Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. CT. Get your tickets TODAY!
» https://t.co/PgmcaHDNNp#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/GzZoD0ckIo
This is not a drill. This is not hyperbole. Auburn basketball has won twelve straight games, which should put them in the Top 25 when the new polls are released tomorrow.
Q: Who has the 3rd-longest winning streak in the nation?
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) January 7, 2018
A: Auburn
Tigers make it a dozen in a row with 88-77 victory over No. 22 Arkansas. pic.twitter.com/DsUITxM3ny
And despite the “soft” schedule (according to the coach of a team that’s 9-6 right now), Auburn has beaten two straight ranked teams to open SEC play.
First time since 1986 that the Tigers have beaten ranked opponents in back-to-back games. #WarEaglehttps://t.co/L7UAIzj7Lg
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) January 7, 2018
Auburn’s battle at Tennessee the other night was much tougher, as the Tigers erased a 14-point deficit before winning in the end by ten, but last night the Tigers jumped out to a 21-point lead before holding on for another double-digit victory.
Bruce Pearl has coached Auburn into the Top 25 without Danjel Purifoy and Austin Wiley. Will vote Tigers on my ballot after wins over Tennessee and Arkansas back-to-back.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 7, 2018
Don't know if SEC has a Final Four caliber team yet, but league's depth can't be debated. Every night is an absolute battle. As deep as it's been.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 7, 2018
Auburn will be ranked tomorrow, that’s for sure. The Tigers were receiving votes (effectively 35th in the AP, and 33rd in the Coaches), and with the carnage that’s been college basketball this season, will find themselves in the Top 25 without a doubt.
While the Tigers may not be Final Four caliber just yet, are there really many teams that are? All of the big conferences are grinders. Looking around the country, #2 Duke lost for the second time in its first three ACC games, #7 Oklahoma got frustrated at West Virginia, 5th-ranked Xavier fell, and in the SEC, #11 Texas A&M, #17 Kentucky, and #22 Arkansas all lost.
The only other undefeated team this early on in the SEC is Florida, who’s 3-0 with wins over Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Missouri (those three are a combined 2-6 in conference so far).
That’s to say, it’s not unfair or unfounded to say that Auburn might be the best team in the SEC.
Let’s continue that on Tuesday against Ole Miss. 8 pm tipoff for the Tigers and the Rebels at Auburn Arena. War Eagle!