Auburn basketball returns home without star big man Johni Broome in a top-15 matchup. Read more for a full Auburn vs Mississippi State prediction and preview.
The No.1 Auburn Tigers are atop the AP Poll for the first time since 2022 and the second time in school history. On Tuesday, they will host the No. 15 Mississippi State Bulldogs.
While the Tigers have won eight of their last nine matchups against the Bulldogs, Auburn will be without Johni Broome, who suffered an ankle injury against South Carolina on Saturday.
The Tigers look to remain perfect and hold onto their No. 1 ranking against a Bulldogs team that has two ranked wins on the season.
General Information:
Teams: Auburn (15-1, 3-0) and Mississippi State (14-2, 2-1)
Tip time: 6 p.m. CST
Watch: SEC Network
Listen: Auburn Sports Network
Latest on Mississippi State basketball:
In Mississippi State’s most recent game, No. 6 Kentucky snapped the Bulldogs’ game-win streak in a 95-90 shootout at home, resulting in their first conference loss.
The Bulldogs are led by sophomore guard Josh Hubbard, who made the All-SEC Second Team as a freshman, averaging 17.0 points and shooting 37.3 percent on 3-point attempts. Hubbard is also second in the SEC in made 3-pointers and ranks third nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at a 4.25/1 clip.
The Bulldogs are 4-1 in quad-one games this season, with the only loss to Kentucky. They are also 3-0 in true road games. This will mark the first of three consecutive quad-one games for the Bulldogs.
Latest on Auburn basketball:
The Tigers ascended to No. 1 in the most recent AP Poll after two road wins over Texas and South Carolina, only the second time in program history, both under head coach Bruce Pearl.
After narrowly escaping South Carolina on Saturday, partially due to the exit of All-American Johni Broome due to an ankle injury, it was reported that Broome would not require surgery, but he is out indefinably.
Broome, the former favorite for the Wooden Award, will force the Tigers to adapt quickly as the SEC schedule only gets more intense for the Tigers.
Auburn vs Mississippi State prediction: Tigers by 9 (69-60)
While the Tigers will be forced to play without their All-American against a road-tested Mississippi State team who looks to avenge their loss to Kentucky, travel to one of the more challenging environments in the country in Neville Arena.
While the Tigers will lack Broome’s star power, they have dominated this series in recent history, especially on home court. I believe that trend will continue as the No. 1 team in the country finds a way to win against a top-15 opponent.