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Observations from No. 11 Auburn’s 82-73 loss against Memphis at State Farm Published: Dec. 10, 2022, 8:55 p.m. 4–6 minutes Auburn coach Bruce Pearl reacts during the first half of the team's exhibition college basketball game against Alabama-Huntsville on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)AP By Nubyjas Wilborn | nwilborn@al.com Kendric Davis scored 27 points to pace Memphis in an 82-73 victory against No. 11 Auburn in front of a primarily Orange and Blue-clad crowd in Atlanta at State Farm Arena. Memphis coach Penny Hardaway noticed the audience was overwhelmingly in favor of Auburn, which is less than a 90-minute drive from the arena. “When I walked out and saw that crowd,” Hardaway said. “I was like, ‘this is a Final Four crowd’ this is really an NCAA tournament second-round crowd, and it was all Orange, and I was like, ‘Wow, they travel well with their fans and how passionate they are... It was a tournament atmosphere. K.D. Johnson and Wendell Green led Auburn with 14 points each. Johni Broome had 11 points, and Chris Moore scored 12 to give Auburn four players with at least 10 points. Johnson had 10 first-half points, and his jumper at the 9:35 mark gave the Tigers a 20-19 lead. Johnson grew up less than 15 minutes from the arena where the Atlanta Hawks play. The loss provided a bittersweet homecoming. “I ain’t get to see my family (after the game); I was just dealing with the loss,” Johnson said. “We were just chilling in the locker room, but it was very special to come back home and play. But unfortunately, we didn’t get a W.” Let’s get into a few observations from Auburn’s first loss of the 2022-23 season. -- Auburn got worked in the paint and on the boards. Memphis outscored Auburn 50-24 in the paint and outrebounded Auburn 43-32. Memphis bullied Auburn, and it showed up around the rim. “The reason why they got so many points in the paint is that they just drove the ball to the basket. They drove it right around us,” Pearl said. “They drove it left around us. They got to the rim, and they scored. We didn’t rotate very well. We weren’t very physical defensively. Again, we didn’t make them score through our chest.” -- Auburn entered the game leading the nation in blocked shots. Memphis planned to pull Tiger big men Dylan Cardwell and Broome away from the basket, and it worked. Cardwell had two blocks late in the second half, but that was it for the game. “I feel like they were being very schemey with it,” Auburn forward Chris Moore said. “Our coaches tell us to stay home with a lot of that. We bought into the game plan for the most part. Usually, our bigs are the ones to come over when one of our guards get beat -- to come to get a block. This game plan was originally to stay home. That’s probably why our rim protection wasn’t there.” -- Auburn got within eight points when Johnson hit two free throws with a little over three minutes left in the game. The Tigers had a chance to get within six points when Johnson got a steal at the 1:35 mark, but Moore missed the layup. Pearl felt Moore got fouled on the play and ended up getting a technical foul for debating with the refs. Davis made the free throws and got fouled by Green on the following possession. Davis made both foul shots, and Memphis was back up by 12 with a little over a minute remaining. “I’ve watched a ton of Auburn games where they can be down 10 with four minutes to go and win by 10,” Hardaway said. “They’re so dynamic, and I could feel that momentum going their way. When they got that rebound and Chris took off, I was like, oh man, that layup takes it to six. That’s tough with the momentum going, with three minutes to go. When he missed that layup, Kendric’s (Davis) charge took us over the hump and finalized the game.” -- After the game, Memphis players had a celebratory water dousing for their head coach. “We came in wanting to be the tougher team, mentally and physically, because you know you have to play that way against Coach Pearl’s team,” Hardaway said. “The excitement after was real, and that’s why they doused me with water. It was a big win for us. We’ve been working really hard.” -- Auburn (8-1) returns to Neville Arena Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT for a game against Georgia State before embarking on a West Coast trip to Southern Cal and Washington leading up to SEC play. Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Kendric Davis scores 27 as Memphis basketball takes down No. 11 Auburn Jason Munz 4–5 minutes ATLANTA ― Kendric Davis and DeAndre Williams combined for 43 points in Memphis basketball’s 82-73 win over No. 11 Auburn on Saturday at State Farm Arena. The arena, teeming with a predominantly boisterous Auburn crowd for most of the game, was left alone to a largely raucous Memphis contingent in the closing minutes. Auburn closed the gap to as few as eight points with fewer than two minutes left, but the Tigers held on. Davis scored 27 points, adding nine rebounds and six assists. The Tigers were serenaded by a spirited rendition of "Whoop That Trick" as they left the court after the win, which is an important nonconference notch in their NCAA Tournament resumé. Memphis (8-2) won its sixth straight game and knocked Auburn (8-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten. The Tigers will try to knock off another top-15 team Tuesday when it travels to No. 8 Alabama (8 p.m., ESPN2). Here are five observations from Saturday’s victory. Kendric Davis clutch late For all his flash and ferociousness, Davis also does the little things that matter just as much or more. With Auburn threating to cut the Memphis lead to six at the 1:57 mark, shortly after Williams fouled out with four minutes to play, Davis took a charge that stopped the momentum. MEMPHIS BASKETBALL VS. AUBURN:Memphis basketball vs. Auburn: Scouting report, score prediction SIGN UP:Sign up for the Memphis Tigers Basketball Insider text group with Jason Munz Twenty-six seconds later, Davis helped prevent an easy Chris Moore layup. After the miss, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl was called for a technical foul, and Davis buried two free throws to put Memphis up 75-65. Second-half DeAndre Williams Williams, who has been as important to Memphis’ success this season as anyone, found it tough to get going in the first half. Mainly because he was stuck on the bench for 10 minutes with three personal fouls. But Williams showed up in the second half. He scored 12 of his 16 points after halftime and collected six of his game-high 11 rebounds over the final 20 minutes. Williams, who missed a triple-double by three assists last week against Ole Miss, notched his third double-double of the year. Keeping them off the offensive glass One of the primary points of emphasis for the Tigers as they prepared for Auburn was limiting the offensive rebounds for Pearl’s team. “We’re getting them. But we’re giving them up,” Hardaway said Thursday. “So, we’ve gotta do better with that. We have to be more serious on boxing out and taking guys off the offensive glass.” Memphis came through, especially early, limiting Auburn to just one offensive rebound in the first half. Auburn had more success in the second half, but the Tigers still held it to 11. Memphis overcomes odds late in first half Memphis mostly has stayed out of foul trouble this season. Even Williams, who has struggled in his Tigers career with fouls, had fouled out just once. In the first half Saturday, though, Williams and others couldn’t steer clear of the whistle. Williams, Malcolm Dandridge and Alex Lomax each caught three personals. As a result, Williams played just 10 minutes before halftime, Dandridge played just four and Lomax only nine. All three were on the bench for the final 3:37 of the first half, when Auburn held a 30-29 lead. But the Tigers closed the half on a 9-2 run, spurred by a mix of sound defense, timely offensive rebounding (two by Elijah McCadden) and balanced scoring (Davis 3, Chandler Lawson 2, McCadden 2, Keonte Kennedy 2). Minimizing the damage For well as Memphis played in spurts in the first half – going 8-for-10 shooting during one five-minute stretch and while not allowing Auburn to score more than two straight baskets without a miss – it also struggled. Tremendously, in fact. During one stretch, the Tigers committed seven of their whopping 13 first-half turnovers over a 4:28 span. Memphis’ first-half turnover total was as many or more than the team committed in six of its first nine games this season. But Memphis saved itself from regretting most of them. Auburn, which shot 36% in the first half, parlayed all those Memphis cough-ups into just seven points. The Tigers scored 13 points off just eight Auburn turnovers. Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

5 takeaways from Auburn's 82-73 loss to Memphis Nathan King 8–10 minutes ATLANTA — Bruce Pearl always says he likes his teams to be challenged early in the year with tough nonconference competition. Auburn may have also been humbled a bit Saturday night, too. Showing major defensive weaknesses for the first time all season, No. 11 Auburn failed to keep up with Memphis down the stretch and lost its first game of the season inside State Farm Arena, 82-73. "Their defense was terrific," Pearl said postgame. "Our defense wasn't. I knew there were times that we'd struggle offensively. But if we had really guarded, and took some ownership of that, they wouldn't have scored 82 points." The loss is Auburn's first to an unranked team in nonconference play since falling at UCF in 2020. Here are Auburn Undercover's immediate takeaways from Atlanta. Auburn defense struggles for first time in 2022 The Holiday Hoopsgiving nightcap had promise of an elite defensive showdown, featuring teams that both entered the game top 20 nationally in defensive efficiency. Instead, Memphis exposed some weaknesses, particularly in the rebounding department and defending around the basket. Auburn’s highest point total given up this season was 66. Memphis hit that with 8 minutes to go. "It's the first time that defense didn't carry the day for us," Pearl said. "I knew the offense would be challenged, but we really, really weren't very well-prepared. Didn't play with the kind of effort and energy that we've been playing with on the defensive end. I've got to take ownership of that. I'll put the loss on me. I got out-coached. Our team got out-prepared. They were more ready to play than we were, and that's on me." It was apparent in the early going Auburn had some issues. Memphis hit 7-of-8 shots and forced Pearl into a rare timeout, down 19-12 less than midway through the first half. K.D. Johnson then decided to take over. The junior scored back-to-back buckets, including a tough coast-to-coast layup through contact, then forced a Memphis turnover to help Auburn mount an 8-0 lead to grab the lead right back. Memphis had seven turnovers in the span of less than 5 minutes, but Auburn struggled to efficiently capitalize. The Tigers had only 7 points off 13 Memphis giveaways in the first half. Nineteen turnovers for the game are the most Auburn's forced in a loss since 24 in last year's double-overtime defeat to UConn in November. And Auburn’s defense had a tough time adjusting out of the locker room, too. Memphis made 10 of its first 16 shots after the break, including eight straight baskets to go up by 10, its largest lead of the game. Memphis found a groove with cutters to the basket, which became its most effective form of scoring. "They drove it right around us; they drove it left around us," Pearl said. "They got to the rim, and they scored. We didn't rotate very well. We weren't very physical defensively. Again, we didn't make them score through our chest." The Tigers entered the game No. 1 nationally in shot-blocking, and had just two rejections on the night — both coming late by Dylan Cardwell. "I feel like they were being very schemey with it," Auburn forward Chris Moore said. "Our coaches tell us to stay home with a lot of that. We bought into the game plan for the most part. Usually our bigs are the ones to come over when one of our guards get beat — to come get a block. This game plan was originally to stay home. That's probably why our rim protection wasn't there." It led to a massive discrepancy in points in the paint, with Memphis finishing with an 50-24 advantage. Things continued to crumble down the stretch, with the Tigers continuing to struggle in several facets. Players were missing open layups, turning the ball over at midcourt and allowing Memphis to drive right to the hoop. Memphis led by as many as 15 and shot 52 percent in the second half — even though it went the last 4:47 of the game without a made shot. Point guard Kendric Davis, the reigning American conference player of the year, was as impressive as advertised, with 27 points on the night. DeAndre Williams was also tough to stop, with 16 points and 11 boards. Late Auburn run As is usually the case with Pearl's team, Auburn didn't quit despite a late deficit. Back-to-back blocks by Cardwell — which happened to be Auburn's first blocks of the game — followed by a clean trip to the foul line for Johnson brought Memphis' lead down to single digits, 73-65 for the first time in several minutes with a 6-0 run. Auburn strung together a few stops, which it hadn't done consecutively for most of the game, but its offense went stagnant at the worst time, highlighted by Moore missing an easy layup in transition. Pearl got hit with a technical foul, and Davis cashed a pair of free throws to put the lead back to 10 points. "I've watched a ton of Auburn games where they can be down 10 with 4 minutes to go, and they can win by 10," Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. "I could feel that momentum going their way. When they got that rebound and Chris (Moore) took off, I was like, man. That layup would put it to 6 (points). That's tough with 3 minutes to go." Rough night on the glass Memphis owned a 25-11 rebounding advantage in the first half, including a whopping nine rebounds to just one for the orange and blue Tigers. As a result, Auburn didn’t have a single second-chance basket in the first half. Memphis’ dominance on the board led to a late burst for Hardaway’s team, which went on a 9-0 run in the closing minutes of the first half — just after Auburn grabbed a lead – to go up 38-32 at the break. Issues continued to fester, and Auburn was ultimately out-worked 43-31 on the glass. "Got out-rebounded by a pretty good number," Pearl said. "And we were bigger, and we were stronger. They were much more experienced, much quicker, more athletic. They were long, and that length, obviously, bothered us." Johnson’s return home Johnson, an Atlanta native who transferred from Georgia last offseason, estimated this week he would have at least 100 friends and family in the arena Saturday. He gave them a good show, as arguably Auburn's best offensive player. With 10 points in the first half alone, Johnson got into double figures (14 points) for the fifth time in his past six games. "It was very special to come back home and play," Johnson said. "But unfortunately we didn't get a W." Moore had an effective evening, shooting 2-of-2 from beyond the arc with 10 points. Johni Broome (11 points, six rebounds) also got into double figures after a slow start. Wendell Green Jr. got into double figures late (12 points) but shot 0-of-4 from 3-point range and had four turnovers. Auburn shot 38 percent from the floor as a team. The 3-ball looked as if it could be a viable weapon for the Tigers in the early going, after Auburn made three of its first four looks from downtown. It then went on to miss three of its other 20 3-point attempts in the game. 'NCAA tournament crowd' With both teams projected to make the NCAA tournament this season, they got a good taste of a high-level, neutral-site environment early in the season. Although it was a majority Auburn crowd, Memphis fans made their presence felt, too. “This was an NCAA tournament, second-round crowd — and it’s all orange,” Hardaway said. “I was like wow, they travel well.” It was Auburn's third straight trip to the Holiday Hoopsgiving event, and Pearl said earlier this week he expects the Tigers to play a "big-name opponent" next year, too. “I thought it was a good atmosphere,” Pearl said. “Our fans traveled. They did a great job. I apologize that we didn't play better.”

No. 11 Auburn’s K.D. Johnson ready for homecoming at State Farm against Memphis Published: Dec. 09, 2022, 4:07 p.m. 4–5 minutes K.D. Johnson (0) and Wendell Green Jr. (1) during the game between George Mason University and the #15 Auburn Tigers at Neville Arena in Auburn, AL on Wednesday, Oct 26, 2022. Zach Bland/Auburn TigersZach Bland/Auburn Tigers By Nubyjas Wilborn | nwilborn@al.com No. 11 Auburn playing against Memphis at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Saturday (4 p.m. CT ESPN 2) is a homecoming game for several Tigers led by K.D. Johnson, who grew up in Decatur, which is a short drive from the arena where the Atlanta Hawks play their home contests. Johnson got off to a hot start in Auburn’s last win a week ago at Neville Arena. He scored 13 points of his 16 points in the first half, while the Tigers scored a season-high 93 points. Auburn had 44 bench points, including 16 by the Georgia transfer. Recruiting the Atlanta area is a priority for head coach Bruce Pearl. Johnson is one of a long line of Tigers from Atlanta to play on the Plains. Chuma Okeke, currently a power forward with the Orlando Magic, was drafted 16th in the 2019 NBA Draft. Pearl signed Okeke to Auburn out of Atlanta’s Westlake High School. Read More Auburn Basketball: Bruce Pearl is excited about Auburn hiring Hugh Freeze Auburn basketball headlines 4-team field for 2023 Legends Classic Okeke was part of the Final Four team, and his teammate Jared Harper paved the way down Hwy 85 for Issac Okoro and Sharife Cooper from Marietta’s McEachern High School. Jabari Smith played at Sandy Creek, and Walker Kessler was at Woodward Academy before becoming All-Americans and first-round draft picks from Auburn. Pearl discussed the importance of Auburn connecting with Atlanta for games. “Atlanta has been a really important area for us and for Auburn athletics,” Pearl said. “Georgia (as a whole). And the fact that our kids are coming here and graduating... we’ve got six guys who have gotten drafted from Atlanta — Chuma and Isaac and J.T. and Sharife and Jabari and Walker. So, six guys, just from 2019, have been drafted from Atlanta. Almost all of those guys won championships at Auburn. That’s significant.” Jaylin Williams is from Savannah, and Zep Jasper and Dylan Cardwell are from Augusta, proving Pearl’s point about Auburn basketball recruiting in Georgia. “Atlanta has been great to us. Part of my desire to support this tournament was to be able to continue to take our team to Atlanta. The crowds that have been at State Farm have been impressive for Auburn, and recruits and their families definitely take notice. Our players — our Atlanta players, particularly, going home — will obviously appreciate that.” Auburn’s foray into Atlanta continued to evolve with Friday’s announcement that Peyton Marshall, a 6-foot-11, 310-pound center, is committing to Pearl’s program in the 2024 class. Marshall is from Marietta and is a 4-star recruit. Pearl is expecting a solid contingent of Tiger fans at the game. Several of those fans live in Atlanta or surrounding areas and quickly bought the allotment of tickets for the holiday tournament. Other fans grabbed tickets through TicketMaster. Perhaps no player will have more support than Johnson, who expects to have 100 family members and friends in attendance. “It means the world to me to get an opportunity to play a game in my hometown,” Johnson said. “I finally get to play at home. It’ll be a fun experience to see my whole family there.” Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Pearl looking for more production from his freshmen Mark Murphy 5–6 minutes AUBURN, Alabama–As his 8-0 basketball team begins the second month of competition during the regular season, Coach Bruce Pearl said he is hoping to see more production from Auburn’s freshmen. After a week-long break from competition for final exams, the Tigers will take the court again on Saturday to play 7-2 Memphis at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. “Tre Donaldson, Chance Westry and Yohan (Traore) are all really good freshmen,” Pearl said as his Tigers prepare for the short trip to compete for a third straight year in the Holiday Hoopsgiving event on the homecourt of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. The game will be televised on ESPN2. “I have high expectations for all of them,” Pearl said about the freshmen. “Some are getting more opportunities right now than others. For example, Tre, the last couple of games, with Chance coming back I made the decision to give Chance some rotations at one (point guard). Tre didn’t lose that (backup role at point guard). There wasn’t a battle. We play well with Tre on the floor. I have great confidence in Tre. “Chance was one of our best guards this summer,” Pearl said. “He could have played one, two (shooting guard) or three (wing guard/forward)...but I think we need, for example, Allen Flanigan’s and Chris Moore’s physicality and toughness at the three. “We need K.D.’s (Johnson) and Zep’s (Jasper) experience at the two so we really kind of moved Chance into that position (point guard) so Tre’s been put in a tough spot, but he has been fantastic. He has been great in practice and we just happen to be a lot deeper at that position.” Making the short trip up I-85 with their teammates for the 4 p.m. CST tipoff are a trio of freshmen, who have each earned praise from Pearl, but have also been challenged by the coach to be more productive. On the floor in all eight games, 6-10, 225 power forward Traore is playing an average of 17.6 minutes per outing, the most of the freshmen. He is averaging 4.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and he is shooting 46.4 percent from the field. However, he is struggling from behind the three-point and free throw lines. Traore is 2-13 on treys and 7-17 on free throws. “Yo is going from being more of an inside player in high school to now the best position at Auburn, our point-forward position–that four man,” the coach said. “He has been asked to do things inside and out offensively and defensively that are so different from what he was doing in high school. For his development, long-term, this is great, but it doesn’t allow him to be able to as effective. “If I just played him at center as a stretch-five, he would be much more comfortable, particularly offensively,” Pearl declared. Playing in seven games, 6-2, 190 point guard Donaldson is averaging 8.6 minutes per outing. He is averaging 1.4 points and 1.7 rebounds. He has made 4-14 field goals (28.8 percent) and is 0-5 on treys and 2-4 at the free throw line with six assists, five turnovers and four steals. Playing in six games since returning to action after having knee surgery, Westry is averaging 13.8 minutes per contest. The 6-6, 190 guard is 11-29 from the field for 37.9 percent, including 0-10 on treys. He is 3-7 at the free throw line and has eight assists, four turnovers and seven steals. “Chance missed the fall with the surgery,” Pearl said. “You could see moments, but you could also see him thinking about what he is supposed to do and where is he supposed to be offensively and defensively. He just needs more repetitions.” Chance Westry pulls up for a jump shot. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) Saying he is “really pleased” with the freshmen, Pearl added, “They all can and need to play better for us to be the best team we can possibly be, and the learning curve needs to slow down a little bit, and they need to start to perform. That will a key for where we go from here.” Memphis has a five-game winning streak heading into Saturday’s matchup. This will be that team’s third game vs. an SEC team. Memphis won its opener 76-67 at Vanderbilt and won game eight at home vs. Ole Miss by a 68-57 margin. Following the Auburn game, Memphis will play its next two vs. SEC opponents with matchups vs. Alabama and Texas A&M. This will be just the third time Auburn and Memphis have met in basketball. Auburn won the previous matchup, 74-71, at the Hoopsgiving event on Dec. 12, 2020. Auburn won 78-64 at Memphis on January 2, 1953. Tigers vs. Tigers, Defensive Battle Predicted

Auburn basketball lands four-star center Peyton Marshall Lance Dawe ~2 minutes Auburn basketball has gained a commitment from top-50 player Peyton Marshall, per Auburn Undercover. Marshall, a 6-foot-11, 310-pound center out of Marietta, Georgia, chose Auburn over Georgia, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Missouri, Miami, and Ole Miss, among others. His comments about choosing Auburn (per Auburn Undercover😞 "The reason I chose Auburn was simple because it felt like the place to be and it felt like I have the best opportunity for me to take my game to the next level and reaching my fullest potential. That's simply why I could see myself there and also the college-feel. It felt like home. The people were nice and welcoming." Despite his size, Marshall has displayed a smooth skillset and a strong post game, utilizing his frame to assert himself down low. 247 Sports' Travis Branham noted in his scouting report that "at the high school level, no player can contend with his blend of size, length and physicality." Marshall is the No. 48 overall player in the class of 2024 and the No. 6 player in the state of Georgia according to 247 Sports. He is Bruce Pearl's first commitment in the 2024 cycle. Welcome to the Plains, Marshall.

Auburn vs. Memphis: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for Saturday's game in Atlanta Taylor Jones ~3 minutes The No. 14 Auburn Tigers play the Memphis Tigers on Saturday as part of Holiday Hoopsgiving at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place. Auburn’s game with Memphis is slated to be the headlining game of this year’s Holiday Hoopsgiving event and will be Auburn’s toughest game to date. Buy Tigers Tickets Auburn and Memphis are both ranked in the top 30 of the latest KenPom rankings, are both in the top 40 of the ESPN Basketball Power Index. When it comes to human rankings, Auburn ranks in the top 15 of both the Associated Press poll, as well as the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, while Memphis is receiving votes in both cases. Memphis has built a strong resume to this point in the season, earning wins over Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, and Nebraska. Auburn will be Memphis’ third SEC opponent this season, and they will play their fourth on Tuesday when they travel to Alabama. Point guard Kendric Davis has been key to Memphis’ success, as he averages 17 points per game. Wendell Green Jr. will go toe-to-toe with Davis on Saturday, and he says that he welcomes the challenge. “It’s something you look forward to,” Green said of matching up with Davis. “Playing against guys that are up there with me and I’m up there with them, you know, same level, you just want to go out there and show who’s better. But at the end of the day, it’s not really about that matchup. It’s about which team wins and hopefully, we can do that Saturday.” Below, you will find key information regarding Saturday’s game between Auburn and Memphis, including a how-to-watch guide, an injury report, and a projected starting five. Here’s when you should tune in to see the game: Date: Saturday, Dec. 10 Time: 4 p.m. CT TV Channel: ESPN2 (Mike Morgan, Dane Bradshaw) Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here) Radio: Auburn Sports Network (Andy Burcham, Sonny Smith, Brad Law) AUBURN Jaylin Williams Illness Questionable for Saturday’s game MEMPHIS Damaria Franklin Eligibility Out indefinitely Jahmar Young Jr. Eligibility Out indefinitely Ian Granja Undisclosed Questionable for Saturday’s game AUBURN Wendell Green Jr. Johni Broome K.D Johnson MEMPHIS Kendric Davis DeAndre Williams Alex Lomax AUBURN Wendell Green Jr. G Zep Jasper G Chris Moore F Jaylin Williams F Johni Broome F MEMPHIS Kendric Davis G Alex Lomax G Jayden Hardaway G Chandler Lawson F DeAndre Williams F

Auburn vs. Memphis live stream info, TV channel: How to watch NCAAB on TV, stream online Scout Staff 8–10 minutes How to watch Auburn vs. Memphis basketball game By 50 mins ago • 1 min read Who's Playing Memphis @ No. 11 Auburn Current Records: Memphis 7-2; Auburn 8-0 What to Know The #11 Auburn Tigers will take on the Memphis Tigers at 5 p.m. ET Saturday at State Farm Arena. Both teams come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous games. Auburn made easy work of the Colgate Raiders last week and carried off a 93-66 win. The top scorer for Auburn was guard K.D. Johnson (16 points). Meanwhile, Memphis strolled past the Little Rock Trojans with points to spare on Tuesday, taking the matchup 87-71. Memphis got double-digit scores from four players: forward DeAndre Williams (17), guard Jayden Hardaway (16), guard Keonte Kennedy (14), and guard Alex Lomax (10). This also makes it five games in a row in which Alex Lomax has had at least three steals. Barring any buzzer beaters, Auburn is expected to win a tight contest. Those who got lucky with them against the spread last Friday might want to hold off on placing bets this time since the team has yet to string together back-to-back wins against the spread. Auburn is now a perfect 8-0 while Memphis sits at 7-2. A couple defensive numbers to keep in mind before tip-off: Auburn ranks 14th in college basketball when it comes to points allowed per game, with only 58 on average. As for Memphis, they have been holding their opponents to a field goal percentage of 37.80%, which places them 26th in college basketball. How To Watch When: Saturday at 5 p.m. ET Where: State Farm Arena -- Atlanta, Georgia TV: ESPN2 Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) Follow: CBS Sports App Odds The Tigers are a slight 1.5-point favorite against the Tigers, according to the latest college basketball odds. The oddsmakers were right in line with the betting community on this one, as the game opened as a 1.5-point spread, and stayed right there. Over/Under: -110 See college basketball picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now. Series History Auburn won the only game these two teams have played in the last eight years. Dec 12, 2020 - Auburn 74 vs. Memphis 71 College basketball rankings: No. 1 Houston faces Alabama in top-10 showdown to highlight loaded Saturday The Crimson Tide provides a tough test for the undefeated Cougars, the No. 1 team in the Top 25 And 1 Watch Now: Highlights: Rutgers at Ohio State (106) Houston is No. 1 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college college basketball rankings - and also No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Coaches Poll, the NET rankings, KenPom.com, BartTorvik.com, EvanMiya.com, basically everywhere. In other words, humans and computers both agree, Kelvin Sampson's Cougars are awesome. But it is also true that among the four highest-rated undefeated teams - i.e. Houston, Purdue, Virginia and UConn - the Cougars are the only one that doesn't already have multiple Quadrant-1 wins or a victory over a school also ranked in the Top 25 And 1. Such could change this weekend, though. That's because Houston is playing in Saturday's most interesting game - a showdown between the top-ranked Cougars and an Alabama team that's ranked eighth in Saturday morning's updated CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings. The two schools are entering this matchup with a combined record of 16-1. Both have projected one-and-done lottery picks in the 2023 NBA Draft - namely Jarace Walker (Houston) and Brandon Miller (Alabama). "This is a big game nationally," said Houston coach Kelvin Sampson. "There's a lot of attention on this game." Absolutely, there is. But Alabama-Houston is far from the only worth-your-time game on Saturday's schedule. Indiana and Arizona, the teams ranked 10th and 15th in the Top 25 And 1, are playing in Las Vegas at 7:30 pm ET. Kansas, ranked 17th in the Top 25 And 1, is renewing its rivalry (on the road) with undefeated Missouri at 5:15 pm ET. Auburn, undefeated and ranked 20th in the Top 25 And 1, is trying to get its first Quadrant-1 win when it plays Memphis in Atlanta at 5 pm ET. And Creighton, ranked 22nd in the Top 25 And 1, is attempting to snap a three-game losing streak when it plays BYU in the Jack Jones Hoopfest in Las Vegas at 10 pm ET. Bottom line, the first Saturday without major college football - except for Army vs. Navy, which you should definitely watch at 3 pm ET on CBS - should be great. There's a decent chance Sunday morning's Top 25 And 1 will look different after Saturday's games are finished. Itching for more college hoops analysis? Listen below and subscribe to the Eye on College Basketball podcast where we take you beyond the hardwood with insider information and instant reactions. Top 25 And 1 rankings Our Latest Stories

Auburn is the new favorite for Colton Hood Zac Blackerby ~3 minutes Auburn is the clear favorite for Michigan State commit Colton Hood. Despite being committed to the Spartans since September 5th, many are expecting the McDonough, GA native to sign with the Auburn Tigers on Early Signing Day on December 21st. Hood knows a lot about the program. He grew up around it. His uncle Roderick Hood started in 18 games during his time on the Plains. "A kid who has played in the state of Georgia, really nice competition throughout his career. We know he's got it in the bloodline," Recruiting Insider John Garcia said on Locked On Auburn. "He's an Auburn legacy three of four times over." Hood has traits that a lot of schools pay attention to. His 6-foot, 170-pound frame sticks out. He doesn't shy away from contact, He's a multi-sport athlete and has experience playing baseball. "Mel Tucker at Michigan State, when he brings in (defensive backs), they all have a bit of a common thread that fits a lot of SEC programs," Garcia said. "Bigger, more physical, willing to challenge you at the line of scrimmage but with some ball skills and length mixed into it." Hood took his official visit to Auburn on October 29th. Since Bryan Harsin has been fired, he is able to take another official visit to the Plains. This could obviously help out Zac Ethridge and the rest of Hugh Freeze's staff. "I think he is going to take another official too," Garcia said. "That's where Auburn can get interesting really late in the game for a lot of recruits because when you make that head coaching change, the NCAA allows you to take another official visit even if you've already used it for that school." With more predictions and crystal balls for Hood pointing to Auburn, Garcia said it nicely. "I'd be a little surprised if he ended up signing anywhere other than Auburn"

New Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze talks about his history of developing quarterbacks Hugh Freeze was announced as Auburn’s new head coach just over a week ago now. He has hit the ground running with recruiting and organizing his coaching staff. From Malik Willis at Liberty to Bo Wallace and Chad Kelly at Ole Miss, Freeze has earned a reputation for developing high-level quarterbacks at nearly every stop he's made in his college career. In a recent interview, Freeze talked about his "quarterback-friendly offensive system" and what it takes to develop a successful signal-caller. “I think it comes from our system," Freeze said. "I think I teach in a way that helps them understand the game and where the game should be played on a given play, post-snap. Which is a little different. Not a lot of coaches feel good about giving up that control. But I’ve gotta believe that I can teach it well enough for our quarterbacks to know, ‘man alright post-snap, this safety is the insert player, this is the field I need to play on.’ And I think it’s quarterback friendly as long as they can be a fundamentally-accurate passer. I need help with that. I think my gift is teaching them the game and making correct decisions and getting the protection set and all of that. I’ve had some great, fundamental quarterback coaches that were really good. That’s a great compliment to me. Ole Miss had Dan Werner, Liberty had Kent Austin who’s brilliant and one of the best to ever do it. I can’t take total credit for the development. I think I’m pretty good at helping them learn the game.” Auburn went 5-7 overall this season, the worst record the Tigers program has experienced in nearly a decade. Freeze previously coached in the SEC at Ole Miss from 2012-16, spent the previous four seasons turning around the program at Liberty. Subscribe to 247Sports YouTube for the latest college football, basketball and recruiting news including live college commitments. Here’s more of what Freeze had to say about Auburn and his coaching philosophies… “Zero sleep for me but a lot of joy. A lot of just having the family together knowing that this has kind of been a dream and now you’re living in it and walking in it. It’s pretty surreal also. And then you go back and forth between this is surreal and it's awesome and ‘oh my gosh I have so much to do and I can't get it all done.’ And so I battle that going back and forth but it's been an incredible welcoming from the Auburn family and our family is grateful.” “Man, he’s extremely thorough and he's extremely patient. He takes the time to gather facts and truth and I appreciate that about him. I enjoyed all of my conversations with him. I thought he was easy to communicate with, easy to talk to. Was fair in seeking, really, ‘man let me get to know you’ and I thought he did that beautifully with Jill and I. So did Rich [McGlynn] and Lee [VanHorn] and the team that he was using. So it was enjoyable. I knew he was somebody I could enjoy working for.” “As a person, I think you grow more in the times of failure — if you handle them the right way — than you probably do in the successes. The mountain tops are beautiful but usually the fruit is grown in the valleys. And I think that’s kind of where I’ve been and there’s been a lot of growth in me over the last six years from trying to be more committed and disciplined on a daily life– to your faith, your family and your friends. Family also meaning my team and administration and university family. And learning to be a better listener. That’s kind of been my goals. I’m still doing that. And then as a football [coach] it’s been incredible. To take an FCS program that’s transitioning to FBS and win at least eight games every season. Undefeated in bowl games, our power-5 wins and many more great things that we’ve done … all of that happening that fast and that quick, had been remarkable and I think is a testament to the players, the administration and the staff we had there.” “I hope it doesn’t change. People don’t even realize, originally my first head job in college was Lambuth University. It won two games the year before we got there and we immediately won nine the first year and 12 the second year. Then Arkansas State, had never had a winning season since it had transitioned to FBS — we won 10 games there and a conference championship. And Ole Miss was really in the wilderness with zero SEC wins and we turned that and won seven games in year one, then eight, then nine, then 10. And Liberty was the same way. So I think something’s working and I think it’s the culture. I can set it, but I gotta have a staff that really buys into drive it. I think that’s why these hires are so critical.” “Daily, chasing the standard of our culture every single day, as well as we can. With faith, attitude, mental toughness, integrity and love — chasing those things. And we gotta define what those mean to everyone, which I did in the press conference and we will again. I did to the team this morning. But living out that, with the decisions we make, the way we’re working, the energy, the passion, the positive energy, accountability. All of it. I’ve gotta have a group of people in the locker room to drive that train. I can be the voice in the team room, Cadillac [Williams] can be the voice in the team room but you gotta get it in the locker room. I gotta identify who those guys are.” “I think the best way I can put it is invaluable. I really believe that. I just think in this transition time and where we are with Auburn football and with the Auburn family, that he is a catalyst for all this good right now. I just think he’s invaluable to me and I’m glad he’s partnering with me.” “It's a multiple RPO, tempo-driven offense with NFL passing concepts. That’s really what it is. I don’t go as fast as I did at Ole Miss, typically, I can. But I’ve really kind of matured into this, I want to play complimentary football. At Liberty, probably some of our best wins — I know BYU this year it was a huge win for us — and our defense played 58 plays. You get the talent right in this room and your defense only has to play that many plays, chances are we’re gonna be in pretty good shape.” “I think players have to come first. At this day and time, you better work at it. There is no more of this ‘hey just do what I say and don’t come see me. Just do what I say and stay out of trouble and get your grades and let’s hope that school board works out.’ That don’t work anymore. And you’ve gotta spend an enormous amount of time building a relationship with them and the trust with them. And then I think some of the results you want will come.” ">247Sports

Auburn sees 4-star edge defender decommit after coaching change Andrew Olson 2–3 minutes Ashley L. Williams Jr. committed to Auburn back on Aug. 3, but with changes on The Plains, he’s deciding to look at other options. Williams announced his decommitment from AU on Thursday. He pointed to coaching staff changes. pic.twitter.com/RHruc7Dfa3 — Ashley L. Williams Jr. (@AshleyLWilliam4) December 8, 2022 Williams, out of Zachary (Louisiana), is listed at 6-5, 225 pounds. On the 247Sports composite rankings, Williams is rated 4-stars, the No. 18 Louisiana product, No. 40 edge defender and No. 409 prospect overall nationally in the 2023 recruiting class. Williams has picked up scholarship offers from 23 schools, including Missouri and Texas. He was committed to Nebraska at one time but backed off his pledge to the Huskers in July. Williams used one of his official visits to Minnesota in June. After Williams’ decommitment, Auburn has 10 pledges in the 2023 class. TRENDING 58,148 READS 51,772 READS 23,016 READS A former beat reporter, Andrew Olson is a news manager for Saturday Down South.

Auburn offers 4-star DL Tennessee commit JD McCarthy 1–2 minutes The Early Signing Period is rapidly approaching and Auburn’s coaching staff is looking to add several talented players. The latest target is Tyree Weathersby who the Tigers offered on Thursday. The four-star defensive lineman is committed to Tennessee and will be a tough flip. The 6-foot-4, 251-pounder has been committed to the Vols since July 1 but Auburn defensive line coach Jeremy Grant and Co. are making an attempt to do so. Buy Tigers Tickets Weathersby is ranked as the No. 47 defensive lineman and No. 328 overall player in the 247Sports Composite ranking. The Douglasville, Georgia, native is also the No. 30 player from the Peach State. With several starters moving onto the NFL or out of eligibility and several depth pieces entering the transfer portal, Auburn needs to land several defensive linemen and Weathersby would be a nice addition. Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Aurbrn.@DLCoachGarrett @NewManchesterF1 @CoachJack19 @asteele1914 pic.twitter.com/sW09lyHoMH — Tyree Weathersby (@tw29_) December 9, 2022

Portal Prospect: Dont'e Thornton, WR, Oregon Zac Blackerby ~2 minutes Auburn may add a transfer wide receiver this weekend. Oregon wide receiver Dont'e Thornton will be on the Plains this weekend to see what Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers have to offer. Thornton has some great traits that any coach would want in his wide receivers. His 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame is elite when it comes to size. In 2022, Thornton had 17 catches for 366 yards and a touchdown for Oregon. He also averaged 21.5 yards per reception. He played in 11 games and was on offense for 306 snaps on offense. Thornton played two seasons with the Ducks and saw significant action in both years. He will be a junior for whoever he plays for next. PFF rated Thornton's overall grade at 65.7. They grade his impact in the passing game as a 65.2. Thornton wouldn't be the first Oregon Duck to find their way to Auburn in the transfer portal. Auburn landed quarterback Robby Ashford, defensive tackle Jayson Jones and cornerback DJ James from Oregon last year via the transfer portal. Auburn has a lot of talent returning at wide receiver but Freeze seems to be looking to find some pass catchers that can add some pop to his offense. Must read stories The best quarterbacks available in the transfer portal Auburn hires Jake Thorton as offensive line coach ESPN analyst believes this transfer quarterback would fit well in Hugh Freeze's offense The best offensive linemen available in the transfer portal Auburn hires Wesley McGriff, returns for third stint with Tigers Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials! Join the Discord

Pearl predicts defensive battle vs. veteran Memphis team Mark Murphy 5–7 minutes AUBURN, Alabama–Following an eight-day break from competition for fall semester final exams, the Auburn basketball team will return to action on Saturday in Atlanta vs. the Memphis Tigers. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CST at State Farm Arena and the game will be televised on ESPN2. Coach Bruce Pearl said that his team’s opponent, which brings a 7-2 record into the matchup, will challenge his 8-0 Tigers. “Memphis is probably the toughest (opponent) so far,” he said about his team’s early season schedule. However, Pearl added that Saint Louis and Northwestern, which gave Auburn challenging games, are also strong opponents. “Memphis is just older–seven or eight seniors out there,” Pearl said. “Seven of them are fifth-year guys. Many have been at Memphis for a long time and have kind of paid their dues and are now getting opportunities to star. “They are picked second in their league behind Houston,” Pearl pointed out about a team that will arrive in Atlanta on a five-game winning streak after defeating Arkansas-Little Rock 87-71 on Tuesday. “Houston is the No. 1 team in the country,” Pearl said. “Memphis looks at Houston as their benchmark. That is who they compete with. Those are the two elite programs in the American Conference.” Auburn and Memphis have one common opponent, the Saint Louis Billikens, a team Auburn defeated 65-60 at Neville Arena. Memphis lost 90-84 in a road game vs. Saint Louis. One of the fifth-year seniors for Memphis, 6-0, 177 point guard Kendric Davis, is his team’s top scorer at 17.1 points per game. He leads Memphis in three-pointers made (14-45) and assists (43 with 29 turnovers). DeAndre Williams, a 6-9, 205 fifth-year senior transfer from Evansville, is the other Memphis player scoring in double figures with 14.1 points per game. He is the top rebounder at 7.3 per game. As a team Memphis is plus 2.1 per game in rebounding margin. Auburn is plus 6.5. Auburn, which is ranked 11th nationally in this week’s AP Top 25, features three players scoring in double figures led by junior point guard Wendell Green at 13.4 points per game. “It is something you look forward to,” Green said of the challenge of matching up with a highly-regarded point guard, something he won praise for from Pearl with how he performed against Saint Louis star Yuri Collins. Green said he wants to out-play Davis, or whoever he is guarding and whoever is defending him, but added, “At the end of the day it is not really about that matchup. It is about whose team wins.” Auburn is allowing just 58 points per game and Memphis is allowing 64.3 while holding opponents to 37.8 percent shooting. Pearl predicted that both teams will get after each other defensively on Saturday. He noted that that Memphis like to pressure the ball-handler and a big part of the game will be how Green handles double-teams. "We have great spacing in our offense and should be able to handle it," Pearl said. "The plan is always attack pressure when you can." Wendell Green is in his second season with the Tigers. (Photo: Adam Sparks / Inside the Auburn Tigers, 247Sports) Auburn comes into the contest after defeating Colgate 93-66 last Friday at Neville Arena. That is the most points the Tigers have allowed an opponent this season. “Our kids have been excited about playing defense,” the Auburn coach said. “I think they recognize that defense has got to carry us. They have not taken many possessions off. We spend a lot of time on the defense, and on game plans and preparation.” Pearl said the challenge moving forward is how the Tigers respond against talent individuals and offensive teams they will be facing. Auburn’s second-leading scorer, 6-10, 235 center Johni Broome, is averaging 10.9 points and a team-best 8.7 rebounds. He also has contributed to the good start on defense with 24 of the team’s 66 blocked shots, a category Auburn is ranked No. 1 nationally in through eight games. K.D. Johnson, a junior guard, averages 10.5 points per game for the Tigers. Pearl Press Conference 2COMMENTS Auburn Basketball Notes: In previous trips to Atlanta to participate in the Hoopsgiving event, the Tigers defeated Memphis 74-71 two seasons ago and cruised past Nebraska last year winning 99-68. Pearl said the Tigers will likely play a “big time opponent” in next year’s event. “It is an opportunity for our fans in Atlanta to come over there and see us play,” the coach said. Auburn received 2,200 tickets for the game and sold those, but tickets are available on line from Ticketmaster...With the Tigers finishing fall semester final exams, Pearl said the players are in good shape on the academic front. “Auburn has done a phenomenal job helping our guys make progress towards their degrees and graduate. We have graduated more than anybody in our league over the last eight years.”...The other games taking place at State Farm Arena on Saturday are Tulane vs. Buffalo at 10:30 a.m. (CST), Wake Forest vs. LSU at 1 p.m. (CST) on ESPNU and Clemson vs. Loyola Chicago at 6:30 p.m. (CST) on ACC Network.

Memphis point guard presents elite challenge for Auburn in Atlanta Nathan King 4–5 minutes Here’s hoping the popcorn is cheap in State Farm Arena. In what Bruce Pearl called No. 11 Auburn’s toughest test to date this season, Memphis (7-2) presents an elite point-guard challenge for Wendell Green Jr. and the rest of his backcourt Saturday afternoon in Atlanta (4 p.m. CST, ESPN2). The dynamic play of Kendric Davis has helped Memphis get off to a strong start in 2022-23. Last year’s American Conference Player of the Year and a three-time all-conference selection during his time at SMU, Davis leads Memphis at 17.4 points per game. “He’s just a great scorer,” Pearl said Thursday. “And you add him to a veteran backcourt with (Alex) Lomax, and it's a talented team.” It’s another anticipated showdown for Green Jr., who two games ago bested another high-level point guard in Auburn’s home win over Saint Louis. Yuri Collins, the top assists man in college basketball (11.1 per game) had 10 points and nine assists, but Green Jr. poured in a season-high 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting — including 4 points in the last minute of the game to help Auburn rally from a late deficit and complete the comeback win. “It’s something you look forward to,” Green Jr. said Thursday. “Playing against guys that are up there with me and I’m up there with them, you know, same level, you just want to go out there and show who’s better. But at the end of the day, it’s not really about that matchup. It’s about which team wins and hopefully we can do that Saturday.” Davis is going through a rough stretch, though, in his past few games, and Auburn obviously hopes that continues. The Texas native has shot less than 30 percent from the floor in three of his last four games, including a 7-of-33 stretch in the past two outings — wins over Ole Miss and Arkansas Little Rock. “I’m not worried about him at all,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said this week. “He has a huge heart and he’s gonna figure it out.” Like Auburn, Memphis is elite defensively, currently top 20 nationally in defensive efficiency, per KenPom. Hardaway’s team has given up more than 70 points just twice all season through nine games, helped by one of the most experienced lineups in college basketball. Of Memphis’ nine-man rotation, eight players are seniors. “Wendell being able to pass out of double teams will be important — because they're going to double him,” Pearl said. “We've got great spacing in our offense, so we should be able to handle it, and the plan is always to attack pressure when you can." ESPN BPI gives Auburn a 62.6% chance to win in front of what figures to be a pseudo home environment for the orange and blue. An Auburn media rep told reporters Thursday that the Tigers have sold approximately 2,800 tickets for their session alone — one of three matchups back-to-back-to-back Saturday afternoon. Auburn is the last game of the day. It’s the home stretch for Auburn’s nonconference play, with only three games remaining after Memphis before the Tigers take on Florida at the end of the month to open their SEC slate. Memphis happens to have two SEC wins this season already — on the road against Vanderbilt and at home over Ole Miss. In last year’s Holiday Hoopsgiving matchup, Auburn obliterated a short-handed Nebraska team, 99-68 while Pearl was serving a two-game suspension. “You know, it’s fun — it’s a different environment, gives you a different feel,” Green Jr. said. “But at the end of the day, it’s just Auburn vs. Memphis and see who can win.” *** HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Get 50% off Auburn Undercover subscription (with FREE Paramount+) *** *** Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more *** *** Get Auburn news straight to your inbox with the Auburn Undercover newsletter ***

Auburn RB officially enters transfer portal after 2 seasons with Tigers Cory Nightingale ~3 minutes New Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has lost another player to the transfer portal. According to On3’s Matt Zenitz, Jordon Ingram entered the portal on Tuesday, ending his 2-year career on The Plains. This will already be the 2nd time Ingram has transferred. He joined the Tigers after leaving Central Michigan after the 2020 season. Ingram got his 1st and only carries at Auburn last season, carrying twice for 8 yards in a 62-0 victory over Alabama State in Week 2. He did not see any game action this season and did not see any action prior to joining Auburn. Ingram was a 3-star prospect coming out of Mobile, Alabama, in the 2020 class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all 4 major recruiting media companies. The 6-1, 209-pound Ingram was a standout at St. Paul’s Episcopal. He was named a 1st-team all-Coastal Alabama selection by AL.com in 2019 and was a 2nd-team Class 6A All-State pick, rushing for 1,394 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior at St. Paul’s. Ingram also caught 15 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown for head coach Steve Mask and played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.

Hugh Freeze adds Kent Austin to staff Taylor Jones 2–3 minutes Hugh Freeze continues to build his new staff at Auburn piece by piece. His most recent addition is a 20-year coaching veteran. It has been reported by Auburn Live’s Keith Niebuhr that Kent Austin, who served as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Hugh Freeze from 2019-22, is now a member of Auburn’s coaching staff. Buy Tigers Tickets While at Liberty, Austin was instrumental in the development of quarterbacks Stephen Calvert and Malik Willis. Calvert threw for 3,663 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2019 and had a streak of 295 passing attempts without throwing an interception. Following a stint at Auburn, Willis led the Flames in passing and rushing in 2020 and 2021. He passed for 5,107 yards and 47 touchdowns over his two-year career as Liberty’s starter while rushing for 1,822 yards and 27 touchdowns. Austin began his coaching career in 2003 in the Canadian Football League, coaching quarterbacks for the Ottawa Renegades. He continued to climb up the coaching ladder in the CFL, where he became the offensive coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts from 2004-06, and served as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2007. He returned to American soil in 2008 to become the offensive coordinator for Houston Nutt at Ole Miss until 2009. He left Ole Miss to become the head coach at Cornell from 2010-12 before moving back to Canada to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2013-18. In addition to his head coaching duties, Austin was also the general manager and director of operations for the franchise. Austin becomes the third member of Freeze’s staff from Liberty to follow him in Auburn, joining Jeremy Garrett and Ben Aigamaua. Freeze has also hired Wesley McGriff and Jake Thornton from Louisville and Ole Miss respectively while holding onto Cadillac Williams, Zac Etheridge, and Christian Robinson from Bryan Harsin’s staff. Austin’s role within Freeze’s staff has yet to be announced.

Auburn QB Robby Ashford makes SEC All-Freshman team Published: Dec. 08, 2022, 4:41 p.m. Nov 26, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Al, USA; Robby Ashford (9) celebrates touchdown during the game between Auburn and Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Todd Van Emst/AU AthleticsTodd Van Emst/AU Athletics NEW! By Nubyjas Wilborn | nwilborn@al.com With Thursday’s announcement from the Southeastern Conference, Robby Ashford got selected for the 2022 SEC All-Freshman team. Ashford threw for 1,613 yards and seven touchdowns as a redshirt freshman after transferring to the Plains from Oregon. His best passing game came in a loss against LSU, with 337 yards and two touchdowns at Jordan-Hare. The Hoover High alum ran for seven touchdowns and 709 yards, including two rushing touchdowns in the Iron Bowl loss against Alabama. Ashford became the first Tiger to run for two touchdowns in an Iron Bowl since 2004, when Carnell Williams ran for two. Ashford matching Williams created a special moment with the former Tiger tailback on the sideline as the interim head coach. “To share that with my coach, that’s a cool accomplishment,” Ashford said. “But at the end of the day, we didn’t get a W. But you’re always trying to look at the positives, the bright sides. What we accomplished — no team has been through what we’ve been through this year. Just for us to go out there and compete, that’s all we ever wanted to do is compete and just go out there and play for Auburn every day.” Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.