This Saturday’s game against Missouri at Neville Arena will mark the start of SEC competition for Auburn basketball. Before the match, where will they be ranked?
Many are disappointed that Auburn has been kept out of the top spot in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll for yet another week. This week, the Tigers are still in second place, only behind Tennessee for the top spot. Florida, Duke, and Iowa State complete the top five.
Auburn lost the chance to improve its prospects of taking the No. 1 slot this week when it withdrew from the competition. After defeating Middle Tennessee 82-64 last Monday, Tennessee is still undefeated. When the Volunteers visit Arkansas, who is gaining votes in this week’s poll, they will be putting their perfect record on the line on Saturday.
This week’s poll includes nine teams from the SEC. Alabama (No. 6) and Oklahoma (No. 10) are in the top 10, after Florida, Tennessee, and Auburn. Mississippi State rises three places to 16th place, followed by Texas A&M at No. 12 and Kentucky at No. 11. After losing to then-unranked Memphis on Saturday by a score of 17, Ole Miss saw the most decline in this week’s rankings. Memphis returns to the poll at No. 25, while Ole Miss loses seven spots to No. 23.
Missouri, Auburn’s first SEC opponent, is receiving votes in this week’s rankings. On January 14, Auburn will host No. 16 Mississippi State at Neville Arena in their first SEC-ranked game.
