Iron Bowl of Basketball: Auburn vs. Alabama Preview, Prediction, and What to Watch

The Iron Bowl of Basketball comes to the Plains this weekend as Alabama is fresh off a major upset over Texas A&M, and Auburn looks to bounce back after showing signs of regression against Tennessee. Last season, the Tigers and Crimson Tide split the series, with each team winning on the other’s home floor. Here's the breakdown of Coach Steven Pearl's first bout against Nate Oats' Crimson Tide.

How to watch:
Date: Saturday, Feb. 7 | Time: 4:00 PM ET
Location: Neville Arena (Auburn, AL)
TV: ESPN2 | Live Stream: ESPN+

Both the Tigers and the Crimson Tide are at a tipping point in the SEC – 5-4 in conference play and sitting firmly in the middle of the pack. Alabama is riding the momentum of its upset over Texas A&M, while Auburn’s shooting struggles continued against Tennessee.

Auburn vs Tennessee Recap: Key Struggles

First and foremost, shooting. Auburn went 7-of-31 from deep with Tahaad Pettiford shooting 2-of-11, Keyshawn Hall 3-of-9, and Kevin Overton 1-of-7. While Tennessee hit four early threes and attempted just nine the rest of the way, Auburn continued settling from behind the arc.

The Vols beat Auburn at their own game, getting to the foul line 31 times and making 25. On Auburn’s foul trouble, Coach Pearl said:

"We just fouled too much... Ultimately, that's the difference in the game right there, along with us settling for too many 3s. We did too many things tonight that have been out of character for us recently."

There's no arguing Pettiford has been a poor shooter this year, but he tied his season high with seven assists against the Vols and had the second-best plus/minus on the team behind Jović.

Auburn also struggled in the interior against Tennessee, getting outrebounded 46–30 while allowing 34 points in the paint. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they’re a smaller team — and Alabama now has a "professional" big. With Alabama’s controversial, or outright “wrong” as Dickie V. put it, addition of G-League player Charles Bediako, Auburn will once again have its hands full inside.

However, the Tigers have already shown they’re physical enough to handle one of the best frontcourts in the SEC. Against Florida, Auburn battled Rueben Chinyelu and the Gators’ size with toughness and discipline, capturing lightning in a bottle to pull off the upset in Gainesville. Auburn will need to tap into that same mindset Saturday if it wants to survive the paint battle against Alabama.

The Tigers came close several times, but with empty trips to the basket and foul trouble, they couldn't capitalize on the Vols' 15 turnovers.

Auburn vs Alabama Preview

Auburn's off-week couldn't have come at a better time. It was reported that Hall had three stitches in the index finger of his shooting hand against Tennessee. On top of that, KeShawn Murphy twisted his knee in Knoxville, and Overton took a knee to the back of the head, making the off-week a much-needed breather.

The Tigers need to stay "in character," says Coach Pearl. Auburn cannot get into a three-point contest. Plain and simple, the Tide overwhelms Auburn in every shooting statistic outside of free throws and averages 91.6 points per game, fourth in the nation.

Alabama is second in the nation in three-pointers made per game at 12.6, Auburn trails about 180 spots behind at 7.8. Guards Labaron Philon Jr. and Aden Holloway are making threes at a 38.5% and 43.8% rate respectively. Coach Pearl should show Auburn's guards some Denver Jones tape so they can learn how to guard the perimeter. Or, listen to freshman Sebastian-Williams Adams:

"Just kind of knowing that Alabama is going to want a high tempo game," Williams-Adams said. "We're going to want a bunch of threes going up, and our team just focusing on what makes this Auburn basketball team click. It's just really important. And I would say it's probably the most important thing come Saturday because there will be high emotions. There will be a bunch of trash talk. So just focusing on what makes us us is probably the most important thing."

Last but not least, hoping Pettiford finds his rhythm isn't a solid game plan, but it would certainly help.

Final Thoughts and Auburn vs. Alabama Prediction

Despite the money, mercenaries, and lawlessness in college basketball, its soul still lives on in the student section. With chants of "G-league dropout" already raining down on Bediako, I can't imagine what the jungle is going to have to say about him and Auburn transfer Aden Holloway.

Alabama enters Neville with the momentum after their mid-week upset but that matters little in a hostile environment. Auburn needs to get back to their Gainesville mindset and pull out a win in this one with the student section behind them.

My prediction:
Auburn 88, Alabama 86

Current SEC Basketball Standings