Preview: Auburn Tigers vs. Houston Cougars Basketball

How to watch:
Date: Sunday, Nov. 16 | Time: 3:00 PM ET
Location: Legacy Arena at the BJCC (Birmingham, AL)
TV: ESPN | Live Stream: ESPN+

Steven Pearl faces a trial by fire as Auburn heads to Birmingham to take on No. 1 Houston in its first Quad 1 test of the season. Auburn upset the No. 4 Cougars 74–69 last year, but the Tigers have a new look this season while Houston returns most of its title-contending core.

Familiar Faces in Birmingham

Unlike Auburn, Houston returns three starters and seven rotation players. Guard Milos Uzan tested the NBA Draft waters and was projected as a second-round pick before deciding to stay in Houston. Guard Emanuel Sharp and forward Joseph Tugler also return as the Cougars look to make another run at a national title after falling to Florida in last year’s championship game.

Additionally, Houston brought in one of the top recruiting classes in the country. Freshman forward Chris Cenac Jr. and freshman point guard Kingston Flemings both look like strong additions to an already recognizable Cougars roster.

Jump-starting Tahaad Pettiford

It’s no secret that Pettiford’s new role as Auburn’s starting point guard has gotten off to a slow start. Through the first three regular-season games, he’s shooting 27.9% from the field and 17.4% from three, including a rough 4-of-17 (1-of-7 from deep) outing against Wofford.

His facilitation of the offense is still strong, and Coach Pearl isn’t concerned with his offensive production yet. Pearl made it clear what he expects from Pettiford regardless of whether the shots fall, saying:

“The offense doesn’t bother me at all. Like 4-for-17, I don’t care about that. I know that his shots are going to fall. What I do care about is the attention to detail and the effort on the defensive end — he has got to continue to be locked in on that side of the ball, especially when his offense isn’t going. And I have very high expectations and very high standards for Tahaad being our only returner.”

It's critical for Tahaad to rediscover the version of himself that showed up in last year’s matchup with Houston. Pettiford led all scorers with 21 points in 24 minutes, going 7-of-12 from the field and 5-of-8 from three.

How The Teams Stack Up

Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars are a defense-first team. They’re big, physical, and come into this matchup as the early No. 1 defensive team in the country, according to KenPom. Auburn can light up the scoreboard against anyone, but this game will be more about whether the Tigers can match Houston’s physicality.

Auburn may have the edge in offensive talent, but the Cougars will slow the game down with their disciplined, half-court approach. Houston’s primary scorer, Emanuel Sharp, is hitting threes at a 40% clip and averaging 17 points per game. Auburn’s biggest issue, though, may be returning center Joseph Tugler, the 2024 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. At 6'8" and 230 pounds, he anchors everything they do inside and is already up to 10 points per game after averaging 5.5 last season.

Keyshawn Hall struggled the last time he faced Houston, scoring just six points on 2-of-12 shooting when UCF played the Cougars. So far at Auburn, he’s averaging 24.3 points and 11 rebounds through five games, a promising sign he’s not the same player Houston saw a year ago.

Auburn has plenty of weapons to keep this game competitive, especially if Pettiford finds his rhythm. Freshman Sebastian Williams-Adams has been a breakout player, averaging 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, shooting 70% from the field, and guarding 1 through 5. Elyjah Freeman is also coming off his best performance of the season with 21 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals. Auburn has scored at least 93 points in each of its first three games, while Houston’s season high is 78 against 0–3 Oakland.

Final Thoughts and Predictions

Auburn has the tools to compete, but you cannot emulate in practice how physical and dominant Houston is, and none of Auburn's opponents thus far come close. Kelvin Sampson runs an extremely disciplined, well-coached team, and they’re unlikely to let this game turn into the shootout Auburn prefers.

Win or lose, this is a game where Auburn, especially the D2 and JUCO players, will learn just how physical the best teams in the nation are. I mentioned Coach Pearl getting a trial by fire, but for Tigers not named Tahaad Pettiford, Kevin Overton, or KeyShawn Hall, it’s the same story: they’re experiencing Houston for the first time as well.

November is relentless for the Tigers, and this game will be a true measuring stick for how well this team meshes. Auburn may not walk out of Birmingham with a win, but it will show a lot about their potential moving forward.

My prediction:
Houston 78, Auburn 73