Coming off a 2-1 performance at the Players Era event in Las Vegas, No. 20 Auburn is preparing for a formidable opponent in the ACC/SEC Challenge as it hosts NC State on Wednesday.
The Tigers (6-2) secured victories over Oregon and No. 14 St. John’s, with their only loss coming to No. 7 Michigan. Coach Steven Pearl emphasized maintaining a balanced perspective, cautioning his team against overconfidence following the win against St. John’s.
“We can’t get too high after beating a good St. John’s team because you’ve got an NC State team tomorrow that’s going to be [motivated],” Pearl said. He noted that the Wolfpack (5-2) will be eager to rebound from a 1-2 showing at the Maui Invitational, where they fell to Seton Hall and Texas despite a win over Boise State.
“They’re going to be playing with a different level of effort and energy than they’ve played with all year,” Pearl added. “Their hair is going to be on fire and they’re going to be looking at this as a must-win game.”
NC State presents a significant perimeter threat, averaging 11.3 three-pointers per game while shooting 42.2 percent from beyond the arc. Auburn’s Kevin Overton said he takes pride in perimeter defense and acknowledged the Wolfpack’s exceptional shooting. The matchup will see Overton guard his former Texas Tech teammate, Darrion Williams, who leads NC State in scoring with 18.7 points per game.
The contest is part of a demanding non-conference slate for Auburn, which includes four teams currently ranked in the AP Top 10. Following the game against NC State, the Tigers will travel to face No. 2 Arizona on Saturday night.
“We have an unbelievable opportunity this week to play two high-powered offenses,” Pearl said, viewing the matchups as a key test for his team’s defensive capabilities.
With a midweek 8:15 p.m. CT tip-off, Pearl urged fans to create a strong home-court advantage for one of the team’s final non-conference home games.
No. 20 Auburn hosts NC State Wednesday at 8:20 p.m. CT on ESPN.
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