Takeaways from Auburn basketball’s 80-71 win over Kentucky

This is the best team in the country.

Auburn strengthened its grip on first place in the SEC after an enormous victory on Saturday.

The Tigers downed the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats 80-71 at home, improving to 18-1, 7-0 in SEC play. Texas A&M now stands in second, at 15-3, 4-1.

It was a game that Kentucky started out hot, turning Auburn over and converting the mistakes into points. As the game went on, Auburn asserted themselves on the defensive end, and injuries to Kentucky guards TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler allowed the Tigers to crawl back into the game.

Here are the five takeaways from Auburn’s nine-point win over the Kentucky Wildcats.