Auburn looking to break 35-year losing streak at Rupp Arena

Tomorrow, Bruce Pearl will bring Auburn to Rupp Arena for the first time in two years. In addition to trying to get a big win in the final stretch of the season, Pearl and the Tigers (19-9, 9-6 SEC) will attempt to end a very ugly streak vs. the Cats. Auburn is only 2-50 vs. Kentucky in Lexington, 2-30 at Rupp Arena. The Tigers’ last win over the Cats in Rupp? January 9, 1988, when they beat Eddie Sutton’s No. 1-ranked squad 53-52. It is the biggest upset in Auburn Basketball history.

Pearl is 10-16 vs. Kentucky in his career, 1-10 in Rupp, his sole victory coming on his first trip there as Tennessee’s head coach in February 2006. Is he using the Tigers’ 35-year losing streak in Rupp as motivation for his team going into tomorrow? You better believe it.

“Absolutely. We talk about the fact that we haven’t won there in 35 years but also remind them that we’ve beaten them four of the last six. So, I want them to have confidence from the standpoint that we respect Kentucky, we respect their history.

“I’m very proud that we’ve been competitive with Kentucky. That’s what you’ve got to do when you’re in the SEC. It’s like playing football in the SEC. You’ve got to be competitive with Auburn and Alabama and Georgia. The best teams in the SEC are those three teams (Author’s Note — are they?). In basketball, you’ve got to be competitive with Kentucky.”

Pearl: “I’m not going to go Hoosiers on them.”

A lot of the big names from the Auburn team that lost to Kentucky 82-80 in Rupp in 2021 are gone, but a few remain, like senior guard Allen Flanigan and senior forward Jaylin Williams. Sophomore big man Johni Broome actually played in Rupp as a freshman at Morehead State in 2020, putting up 11 points and 5 rebounds. Junior guards K.D. Johnson and Wendell Green will be making their Rupp Arena debuts.

When asked if he’s prepared the new guys for the atmosphere they’ll face tomorrow, Pearl laughed.

“I mean, I’m not going to go Hoosiers on them. We’re not going to start at the rim and measure 15 feet. I’m not going there. But we do talk about the fact that — look, it’s a big building. Fans are loud and yeah, it’s a place that really appreciates basketball.”

The fans better be loud because you know Bruce Pearl would love to add another win vs. Kentucky in Rupp to his resume.

Kentucky vs. Auburn: Last 10 Games

Date	Result	Site
Jan. 14, 2017	92-72 W	Rupp Arena
Feb. 14, 2018	76-66 L	Auburn Arena
Jan. 19, 2019	82-80 W	Auburn Arena
Feb. 23, 2019	80-53 W	Rupp Arena
Mar. 31, 2019	77-71 (OT) L	NCAA Midwest Region Final, Kansas City
Feb. 1, 2020	75-66 L	Auburn Arena
Feb. 29, 2020	73-66 W	Rupp Arena
Jan. 16, 2021	66-59 L	Auburn Arena
Feb. 13, 2021	82-80 W	Rupp Arena
Jan. 22, 2022	80-71 L	Auburn Arena