Auburn’s win over Alabama proves Tigers will be a problem
Feb 15, 2025, 07:38 PM ET The Auburn-Alabama rivalry has actually staged numerous classics on the football field. In the 1984 Iron Bowl, former Auburn star Bo Jackson ran the wrong way on a block to seal a win for Alabama. A late touchdown in 2009 assisted Alabama win a rivalry game and remain undefeated in what would be a national championship season. And 2013 produced the infamous “Kick Six,” when Auburn’s Chris Davis returned a failed basket attempt for a touchdown in the final seconds.On Saturday
afternoon in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Alabama produced their own memorable affair on the wood in a thrilling game with SEC and Selection Sunday ramifications. In spite of never having the lead– and tracking by double digits for a portion of it– Alabama made a late go to tie ball game at 65-65 with around eight minutes to play.Editor’s Picks 2 Related And after that,
Johni Broome, the national player of the year candidate, exacerbated an ankle injury that cost him several games previously this season. Yet, Auburn continued to battle and protect the 94-85 win over its in-state rival.The very first AP No.
1 vs No. 2 matchup in SEC history used the theater lots of had prepared for when the most balanced team in America took on among the country’s biggest offending squads. It was a distinct moment for 2 programs that have actually crashed the blue blood celebration in college basketball, and developed into seasonal nationwide title contenders.The winner, Auburn, cemented its edge in the SEC title race, and the pursuit of the top total seed. The loser, Alabama, must regroup and get ready for the rematch in Auburn in 3 weeks.ESPN’s Myron Medcalf, Jeff Borzello and Joe Lunardi break down whatever that happened, and the enduring effects.What did this game inform us about both teams?Borzello: The gap in between Auburn and everyone else for the total 1-seed is just growing
. The Tigers got in with five more Quadrant 1 wins than anyone else in the country and with the No. 1 ranking in five of the 7 metrics the selection committee uses. Now, they have wins over Alabama, Tennessee, Houston, Purdue and Iowa State, with their only 2 losses coming to teams that were 1-seeds in the mock bracket reveal Saturday afternoon, Duke and Florida. Saturday likewise revealed a side of Auburn we hadn’t seen in an SEC roadway game this season, and stopped any doubts we had about the Tigers’ability to dominate an elite challenger in a real roadway environment in conference play.Medcalf: This game demonstrated the significance of Mark Sears to Alabama’s nationwide title hopes. Yes, he scored 18 points.
However he was 4-for-17 and 2-for-11 from the 3-point line. His early nasty trouble affected Alabama’s rhythm, too.The nationwide title will probably be chosen by the teams with tested stars on their lineups: Cooper Flagg for Duke; Broome for Auburn. Walter Clayton Jr.,
Braden Smith, Zakai Zeigler, Wade Taylor IV and more are all playing their best basketball weeks from Selection Sunday, too. Sears will have to match those performances to help his team reach San Antonio.How did Auburn win this one? play 0:31 Auburn leaps out to 9-0 lead vs. Alabama Auburn knocks down a trio of 3-pointers early to get a 9-0 lead over Alabama.Medcalf: Auburn won since Johni Broome might be the best player in the nation. A pair of 3-pointers by the Wooden Award candidate in the opening
stretch assisted the Tigers take an early 9-0 lead and sent out the message they existed to make a declaration. The preliminary run was also crucial because it restricted the effect of a sellout crowd in Tuscaloosa.Broome’s physical design and aggressive defense were pivotal– he completed with 19 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks. Even after he aggravated his ankle injury, he made a crucial block and late pail to assist his group seal the deal. Alabama could not neutralize him.Borzello: Broome was amazing, which is no surprise– but Tahaad Pettiford was
the game-changer in the 2nd half, when Auburn was beginning to hit a wall and Alabama was making its run. Pettiford has actually routinely come off the bench this season to make an effect in huge games. After Grant Nelson connected the score at 65 on a dunk, Pettiford buried a 3 to slow the momentum.
A couple of minutes later, he drove the lane and hit a right-handed scoop layup, then had another surface at the rim on the next possession.Pettiford completed with 13 points, with 11 being available in the 2nd half.How did Alabama lose this one?Men’s Tournament Obstacle Sign up now to play the # 1 Guy’s bracket game for FREE!$135,000 in prizes.