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No. 1 Auburn Looks to Rebound Against Pesky Vanderbilt
Bruce Pearl and top-ranked Auburn (21-2, 9-1 SEC) aren’t dwelling on their first SEC loss of the season. Instead, they’re gearing up for a tricky matchup against Vanderbilt (17-6, 5-5 SEC) on Tuesday in Nashville—a team that has built an impressive 12-1 home record.
Auburn’s First Setback in SEC Play
Auburn’s 14-game winning streak came to an end Saturday in a 90-81 loss to Florida—its first home defeat since February 2024. Despite the stumble, the Tigers remained No. 1 in the AP Poll.
Pearl had seen signs of a potential letdown, acknowledging the team’s energy level was due for a dip.
“We’ve had greater effort-energy or have matched the effort-energy of every team that we’ve played,” Pearl said. “I knew we were due for a letdown.”
Senior Johni Broome led the Tigers with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, while Miles Kelly poured in a game-high 22 points. But Auburn struggled to slow down Florida’s hot shooting and couldn’t capitalize late.
Vanderbilt Is Tough at Home
Vanderbilt isn’t a team to overlook. The Commodores have already beaten Kentucky, Texas, and Tennessee at home this season. Their only home loss came against then-No. 14 Mississippi State.
In their latest victory—an 86-78 win over Texas—Vandy showed its grit and depth. The Commodores dominated second-chance points (25-11) and outscored Texas’ bench (26-17), with Jaylen Carey leading the way with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Carey, who transferred from James Madison with coach Mark Byington, has started to find his rhythm.
Jason Edwards leads the Commodores in scoring with 17.6 points per game, while Tyler Nickel and Carey provide key support.
Key Matchups to Watch
- Johni Broome vs. Vanderbilt’s Defense: Broome is a double-double machine, averaging 18.1 points and 10.9 rebounds. Can Vandy slow him down?
- Auburn’s Energy Level: Pearl’s squad looked fatigued against Florida. Will they bring back their trademark intensity?
- Vanderbilt’s Bench Impact: The Commodores outplayed Texas’ reserves. Can they do the same against Auburn’s depth?
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Can Auburn Bounce Back?
This game won’t be a cakewalk for Auburn. Vanderbilt has proven it can take down top-tier SEC teams at home, and their gritty style could make things difficult.
Will Auburn regain its dominant form and avoid back-to-back losses? Or will Vanderbilt pull off another upset on its home floor?
