No. 1 Auburn visits LSU Wednesday: ‘We need witnesses’ – Auburn Tigers

AUBURN, Ala. – One-third of the way through the SEC gauntlet, No. 1 Auburn stands alone atop the conference standings, the only team without a league loss.

Three of Auburn’s six Southeastern Conference wins have come on the road, where the top-ranked Tigers hope to add two more this week at LSU Wednesday and at Ole Miss Saturday. 

“Hopefully we’re going to get our share,” Pearl said. “There are only two teams that are undefeated on the road this year, and it’s Auburn and Alabama; we’ve each won three road games. We’ve got two tough road games this week with a huge prize on our head.

“Our guys have done a good job so far this year where we’ve been excited about playing everybody. Are we due for a letdown? I suppose, but I haven’t seen it yet.”

Pearl pointed out LSU’s 10-1 home record to give his team and its fans a measure of the challenge awaiting Auburn, calling the Bengal Tigers “one of the most athletic teams in our league.”

“They’re one win against a team like Auburn away from being in (NCAA Tournament bracket projections),” Pearl said. “That’s what we’re going to face.”

With SEC Player of the Week Johni Broome returning to Auburn’s starting lineup, Chaney Johnson rejoins Tahaad Pettiford as the Tigers’ top two weapons off the bench, a luxury few opponents can match.

“They both have a starter impact,” Pearl said. “It really does help us when we go to the bench and we don’t drop off. We just get different.”

As opponents try to use the knowledge they’ve gained by scouting Auburn’s body of work this season, Pearl plots adjustments. 

“Who can continue to evolve and grow?” he asked, “without going to what you’re not very good at, without trying to do stuff you can’t do?”

One thing Auburn has done consistently is prevent opponents from scoring down the stretch in close games, mostly recently in the Tigers’ 53-51 win Saturday over No. 8 Tennessee. 

“It takes an elite game plan, and it takes elite personnel,” Pearl said. “We had both.”

Noting that tickets remain for Wednesday’s battle in the Bayou, Pearl encouraged Auburn people in Louisiana and Texas to trek to see the Tigers.

“I almost want to reach out to the parents of our students whose children go to Auburn that are down in Texas,” he said. “Come on over to Baton Rouge Wednesday night. We need witnesses.”  

Seeking its 12th consecutive victory, No. 1 Auburn (18-1, 6-0) visits LSU (12-7, 1-5) Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT at Maravich Center on SEC Network. Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will call the action for listeners on the Auburn Sports Network. 

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer