The Oklahoma Sooners will travel to Neville Arena on Tuesday night to take on the nation’s top-ranked Auburn Tigers in what promises to be one of the biggest challenges of their season. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. CST, and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
While the Sooners enter this matchup as clear underdogs, they bring some momentum after a dominant 97-67 win over No. 24 Vanderbilt. However, facing Bruce Pearl’s Auburn squad in their home arena—where the Tigers have been nearly invincible—presents an entirely different level of difficulty.
Scouting Auburn
Auburn (20-1, 8-0 SEC) has established itself as the best team in the country, leading not just the AP Poll but also advanced metrics like KenPom and the NET rankings. The Tigers have dominated in every facet of the game, boasting a high-powered offense that ranks first nationally in efficiency while also playing lockdown defense.
The heart of Auburn’s success is Johni Broome, a Wooden Award candidate and one of the most dominant big men in college basketball. The 6-foot-10 forward is averaging 18.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 52% from the field. His ability to control the paint on both ends will be a major test for an Oklahoma team lacking size and interior scoring.
Auburn’s supporting cast is just as dangerous, featuring multiple double-digit scorers:
- Chad Baker-Mazara (13.0 PPG) – A versatile wing who can stretch the floor and defend multiple positions.
- Tahaad Pettiford (11.6 PPG) – A freshman sensation who recently exploded for 24 points against Georgia.
- Miles Kelly (10.7 PPG) & Denver Jones (10.3 PPG) – Sharpshooting guards who add to Auburn’s offensive depth.
Defensively, Auburn excels in shutting down opponents, ranking 20th nationally in opponent field goal percentage (39.7%) and holding teams to just 30.2% from three-point range. The Tigers also force 12 turnovers per game, making it difficult for opponents to find any rhythm offensively.
Oklahoma’s Recent Performance & Keys to the Game
The Sooners (16-5, 3-5 SEC) are coming off one of their most complete performances of the season, a 97-67 rout of No. 24 Vanderbilt. Oklahoma shot 55% from three (11-of-20), dominated the rebounding battle (39-24), and scored an eye-popping 61 points in the second half.
If they hope to compete against Auburn, Oklahoma must replicate that level of offensive efficiency while also tightening up defensively. Here are the keys to the game for the Sooners:
1. Jeremiah Fears and Jalon Moore Must Lead the Offense
Freshman guard Jeremiah Fears has been Oklahoma’s most dynamic scorer, averaging 14.8 points per game, and he’ll need to be at his best against an elite Auburn defense. In the win over Vanderbilt, he finished with 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists while shooting 8-of-12 from the field. However, he has struggled at times against teams with elite rim protection—a category Auburn certainly fits into with Broome anchoring the paint.
Jalon Moore, Oklahoma’s leading scorer at 15.2 PPG, will also be a crucial factor. The 6-foot-6 forward has been on a tear lately, including 19 points against Vanderbilt. Returning to his home state of Alabama, Moore will need to bring his A-game against a Tigers frontcourt that vastly outsizes him.
2. Win the Three-Point Battle
Oklahoma ranks 53rd in the nation in scoring (80.2 PPG) and shoots 37.9% from three-point range. The Sooners must continue their hot shooting from deep, as they did against Vanderbilt when eight different players hit a three.
Brycen Goodine, Dayton Forsythe, and Duke Miles will need to knock down open perimeter shots to keep Auburn’s defense from collapsing on Fears and Moore. If Oklahoma shoots below 35% from deep, they’ll have a tough time keeping pace with Auburn’s elite offense.
3. Handle the Physicality & Rebounding Battle
Auburn’s size advantage is one of the biggest concerns for Oklahoma. The Tigers rank 70th in the country in rebounding (38.8 RPG), while the Sooners average just 32.6 rebounds per game.
Oklahoma’s frontcourt—Mohamed Wague, Sam Godwin, Luke Northweather, and Glenn Taylor Jr.—will need to hold their own against Broome and Auburn’s athletic bigs. If the Sooners allow too many second-chance points or get dominated on the glass, this game could get out of hand quickly.
4. Limit Turnovers & Play Disciplined Basketball
Auburn thrives on fast-break opportunities and turnovers. Oklahoma commits 12.2 turnovers per game, which is manageable, but they’ll need to be extra careful against an Auburn team that forces mistakes at a high rate.
Duke Miles, who had four assists and zero turnovers against Vanderbilt, will need to control the tempo and make smart decisions. If Oklahoma turns the ball over 15+ times, Auburn will likely capitalize and pull away early.
Prediction: Can Oklahoma Shock the College Basketball World?
The Sooners have played well recently, but Auburn is a different beast—especially at home. Bruce Pearl’s team is undefeated at Neville Arena this season and has already beaten four ranked opponents in SEC play.
KenPom currently gives Oklahoma just an 8% chance to pull off the upset, and for good reason. The Tigers are better in nearly every statistical category, have the best player on the floor in Broome, and boast incredible depth.
That said, Oklahoma has nothing to lose—a dangerous mindset for any underdog. If the Sooners can shoot lights out from three, limit turnovers, and get a star performance from Fears and Moore, they could make this a competitive game deep into the second half.
However, Auburn’s size, defense, and home-court advantage will likely be too much to overcome.
Final Score Prediction: Auburn 85, Oklahoma 72
Expect the Sooners to battle hard, but Auburn’s firepower and Broome’s dominance in the paint should lead the Tigers to another home victory.
Watch & Follow
- Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2025
- Time: 8:00 p.m. CST
- TV: SEC Network
- Location: Neville Arena, Auburn, AL
Follow us on Twitter: @SportsHeartland