Auburn Seeks Historic Win at Kentucky in SEC Showdown

No. 1 Auburn has already secured a double bye in the SEC Tournament and is just one win away from clinching at least a share of the regular-season conference title. But when the Tigers visit No. 17 Kentucky on Saturday in Lexington, they’ll also be chasing history.

Auburn has not won at Rupp Arena in 37 years, losing 20 straight games in Lexington since their last victory on Jan. 9, 1988, when they stunned then-No. 1 Kentucky 53-52.

The Tigers are just 2-51 all-time in Lexington, with their only other win coming in 1983. Head coach Bruce Pearl, in his 11th season, is 0-6 at Kentucky, but he’s determined to change that narrative.

“The reason why we have not won there is because, historically, Kentucky’s been the best team in the league,” Pearl said. “But we’re trying to put a dent in that right now.”

Auburn Rolling Toward an SEC Title

Auburn (26-2, 14-1 SEC) is in dominant form, winning five straight games while boasting a 7-1 road record. They are also inching closer to the program’s single-season win record of 30, set in 2018-19, when they made a Final Four run.

The driving force behind Auburn’s success is Johni Broome, a National Player of the Year candidate, who leads the team in scoring (18.8 PPG), rebounding (11.0 RPG), and blocked shots (66). Chad Baker-Mazara adds 12.7 PPG and leads the team with 33 steals.

With an SEC title within reach, Broome understands the magnitude of Saturday’s game.

“It’d be good to clinch it at Kentucky. Obviously, they’re a historic program.”

Kentucky Looking to Defend Home Court

The Wildcats (19-9, 8-7 SEC) are still battling for seeding in the conference tournament and enter Saturday having won four of their last six games. They are 14-2 at home this season and coming off a hard-fought 83-82 road win over Oklahoma, where Otega Oweh put on a show.

Oweh scored Kentucky’s final 18 points and finished with a career-high 28 points, including the game-winning shot with 6.4 seconds left.

First-year head coach Mark Pope believes the victory was a defining moment for his team.

“I do think our guys captured or had an experience that they will call back on when we get in this, in a very similar game,” Pope said.

Kentucky got two key players back from injury in the Oklahoma game. Point guard Lamont Butler (shoulder) returned after a three-game absence, finishing with seven points and six assists before fouling out. Jaxson Robinson (wrist) also played for the first time in four games, scoring seven first-half points before being sidelined again due to discomfort.

Oweh leads Kentucky in scoring (16.1 PPG), while Robinson ranks second with 13.0 PPG and 62 three-pointers. Butler is third in scoring (12.3 PPG) and leads the team in assists (4.7 APG). Koby Brea is Kentucky’s top outside shooter with 71 made threes.

Key Factors to Watch

• Auburn’s Historic Drought in Lexington – The Tigers haven’t won at Kentucky since 1988. Can they finally break the streak?
• Johni Broome’s Dominance – Auburn’s star big man will be a major test for Kentucky’s frontcourt.
• Otega Oweh’s Momentum – Can Oweh build on his breakout performance against Oklahoma?
• Kentucky’s Home Court Advantage – The Wildcats have been tough to beat at Rupp Arena, but Auburn is one of the best road teams in the country.
• Defense and Rebounding – Both teams have size and athleticism. Who wins the battle in the paint?

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Final Thoughts

Auburn is chasing history, an SEC title, and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, while Kentucky is looking to defend its home court and solidify its tournament resume. With one of the most hostile environments in college basketball as the backdrop, this showdown has all the makings of a classic SEC battle.

Will Auburn finally conquer Rupp Arena, or will Kentucky extend the Tigers’ decades-long losing streak in Lexington? All eyes will be on this marquee matchup Saturday afternoon.