As the Auburn Tigers gear up for a pivotal stretch in their 2024-2025 basketball season, all eyes will be on their upcoming back-to-back SEC road games, which kick off on Tuesday in Austin, Texas. The No. 2-ranked Tigers are coming off a strong start to the season and are eager to prove themselves against tough competition away from their home court at Neville Arena.
Leading the charge for Auburn is star guard Johni Broome, a leading contender for national player of the year honors. Broome, who has been instrumental in the Tigers’ success so far this season, spoke confidently about the challenge ahead and the mindset needed to succeed in a hostile environment. “If you want to be one of the best teams in the country, you’ve got to be able to win on the road,” Broome said. “We wanted this, to test ourselves again. Going to Texas and South Carolina will be a good test for us.”
The first part of that test comes Tuesday night when Auburn takes on the Texas Longhorns, one of the newest members of the SEC. The game will be played at the Moody Center in Austin, a venue where Auburn has never faced off against Texas in the regular season. Despite Texas’ loss to Texas A&M in their SEC opener, Auburn recognizes the strength of their opponent and the challenge ahead. “They have a really great roster,” said Auburn center Dylan Cardwell. “It’s going to be challenging to win there in Texas. What stands out to me is how deep their roster goes.”
The Longhorns enter the game with a 11-3 record, having earned impressive non-conference wins over Syracuse and North Carolina State. However, they were handed a tough 80-60 defeat by Texas A&M in their SEC debut, despite being tied with the Aggies at halftime. Regardless of their loss, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl knows that playing against Texas on their home court will be a formidable task. “We’ve had a lot of big games, and I think this one absolutely qualifies,” Pearl said. “It qualifies for both teams. This is a quad-one opportunity for us. Texas is a household name in the world of intercollegiate athletics. Everything they do in Texas is big, and they do it pretty well.”
For Auburn, a victory in this high-stakes matchup could provide a significant boost to their resume. As the No. 2 team in the nation, any win over Auburn is seen as a potential signature win for their opponents, which gives the Longhorns extra motivation to perform. “They’re looking for a signature win,” Pearl said. “One they could hang their hat on. This is their first opportunity in the league at home. I would imagine they’re going to be fired up to play the No. 2 team in the country in their building.”
The importance of the game is not lost on Auburn’s players, especially with their place in the national rankings on the line. “The prize on our head is significant,” Pearl continued. “When you can beat teams that are ranked, it’s a separator. We’re going to have to play our best to win.” Broome echoed this sentiment, understanding the stakes and the opportunity to further solidify their standing among the nation’s elite. “That’s important to us,” Broome said.
A victory on the road would also hold personal significance for Coach Pearl, as it would push him past Joel Eaves for the most wins in program history. Pearl, who has been the head coach at Auburn since 2014, has turned the program into one of the most successful in the SEC, and surpassing Eaves would be a milestone in his career. “It means the world to me to be attached to history,” Cardwell said of his coach’s impending achievement. “I’m appreciative of the opportunity to be part of something so special.”
In preparation for the road trip, Pearl gathered the team for a practice on Monday that included a unique question-and-answer session designed to get his players thinking about the challenges ahead. “One of the questions I’ll ask the team in preparation is, ‘Tell me what they say about teams that can win on the road. What do they say about them?’” Pearl explained. “We’ll fill in the blanks and we’ll see if that’s who we are.” This exercise is meant to get the players mentally ready for the adversity they will face in hostile environments and help them focus on what it takes to succeed on the road.
The game on Tuesday night will be the first of two tough SEC road tests for Auburn, with their next stop being South Carolina. Both games will challenge the Tigers’ resilience, especially as they navigate the pressure of being a top-ranked team with a target on their backs. However, Pearl’s squad has already shown this season that they are capable of rising to the occasion. With Broome leading the charge and supporting players like Cardwell stepping up, Auburn has the talent and determination needed to maintain their spot among the nation’s elite.
For Auburn fans, this two-game road stretch will be an exciting and nerve-wracking test of their team’s mettle. The Tigers have shown flashes of brilliance this season, but now they must prove that they can thrive away from the friendly confines of Neville Arena. If they can secure wins in Texas and South Carolina, Auburn will solidify their place as one of the top teams in the nation and prove that they are truly capable of handling the pressure that comes with being ranked No. 2 in the country.
The game between Auburn and Texas will tip off at 8 p.m. CT on Tuesday, with ESPN2 broadcasting the action. Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will be calling the game for listeners on the Auburn Sports Network. The outcome of this game could have significant implications for both teams as they look to position themselves for a strong finish in the SEC and beyond. Auburn’s ability to win on the road will be key to their aspirations of making a deep run in March and continuing their ascent as a national powerhouse.