Auburn, Alabama:
Over the last several years, Kentucky and Auburn have gone head to head for conference supremacy, and have developed quite the unique college basketball rivalry.
From the Tyler Ullis stare down of, Trayvon Reed a 7'2 center in the 2015 SEC tournament semi-final game to the hiring of Bruce Pearl in the spring of 2014, this rivalry has been one of the most competitive in the SEC over the last five years.
Last season, these two teams played a total of three times with Kentucky taking the first two, then Auburn winning when it mattered during the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Final Four.
This season, both Auburn and Kentucky have seen the extreme highs and the extreme lows.
We'll start with the Kentucky Wildcats, John Calipari and his team opened the season ranked 2nd in the nation, but quickly took a massive loss at home to Evansville. Since that loss, Kentucky has gone 10-4 including, four straight heading into the matchup with Auburn.
The Wildcats are led by an All-American in Nick Richards, who is the beacon for this Kentucky team. The Wildcats are 15-1 when Nick Richards scores in the double-digits. Richards comes into the matchup with Auburn averaging 17.3 points per game, and 9.9 rebounds over the last nine games.
Sure, Nick Richards is the leader of this Kentucky team, but he isn't the only one that makes this team successful. Kentucky has a talented group of guards who help shift the weight away from Nick Richards.
Led by two sophomores and a freshman, this young three-guard lineup for the Wildcats has the upward potential to be one of the best backcourts in the country. Led by Tyrese Maxey on offense and Ashton Hagans on defense.
Auburn started the season 15-0 before eventually losing two straight conference road games to Alabama and Florida by a combined total of 41 points. The Tigers have since rebounded and have won three straight.
Auburn comes into the matchup with Kentucky, trying to protect their home court and an impressive 11-0 home record. Much of Auburn's success over the last few seasons is in big part to the rabid fan base that has made Auburn basketball into one of the most respected up and coming programs in the country.
The Auburn faithful is a hungry fan base after last season, a season full of victory and first for the program. Last season saw this Auburn team win the SEC Tournament and make it to school first Final Four.
This Auburn team comes into the game with Kentucky led by four seniors who all are averaging in the double-digits in scoring. With Samir Doughty leading the way for the Tigers in scoring with 14.6 points per game.
Other notables Tigers to keep an eye out for on Saturday are two guys that familiar faces to Kentucky fans. Two native Alabama kids, Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy. Wiley comes into the matchup averaging 10.2 points per game and nine rebounds, while Purifoy averages 9.3 points per game and five rebounds.
Saturday will be a massive test for both of these teams in the first of two guaranteed meetings between the two. Using this season as our guide, Saturday on the plains will be a must-see basketball event for fans across the country.
Kentucky and Auburn will tip-off at 5:00 central standard time on ESPN, with College Gameday that morning at 10:00.
