Auburn fans had plenty to celebrate last Saturday after watching their team dismantle then-No. 17 Purdue, 87-69.
College basketball experts, including FOX Sports’ John Fanta and Turner Sports’ Andy Katz, have called Auburn the best team. However, NCAA Basketball coaches aren’t ready to agree.
This week, the Auburn Tigers remain at No. 2 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, trailing fellow SEC foe Tennessee for the top spot.
The Tigers earned two key wins last week, defeating Georgia State and Purdue by a combined 59 points. The 11-0 Volunteers wiped out Western Carolina in its only game of the week, 84-36. Tennessee will wrap up nonconference play next week with games against Middle Tennessee and Norfolk State before opening its SEC slate with Arkansas on Jan. 4.
Purdue suffered the biggest drop in this week’s ranking after its loss to Auburn. The Boilermakers, ranked No. 17 at the time of its game with Auburn, fell eight spots to No. 25. Illinois and Mississippi State each advanced six spots in this week’s poll.
The SEC is represented by nine teams in this week’s ranking, with all being in the top 20. Following Tennessee and Auburn, Florida and Alabama each advanced one place to No. 4 and No. 5 respectively. Kentucky’s loss to Ohio State on Sunday dropped the Wildcats six spots to No. 10.
Unbeaten Oklahoma moves four places to No. 11 while Texas A&M falls to No. 13 despite blowing out Houston Baptist last Friday. Ole Miss remains at No. 16 and Mississippi State rounds out the SEC’s representation at No. 19.
Auburn will take a much-needed week away from competition, and will return to action on Monday, Dec. 30 against Monmouth at Neville Arena.
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