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Rick Barnes discusses his respect for Bruce Pearl, Auburn

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•02/27/24
Rick Barnes
(Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK) Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl and Tennessee Volunteer head coach Rick Barnes shake hands before Auburn Tigers take on the Tennessee Volunteers at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Auburn and Tennessee will meet on Wednesday night in a matchup that could have SEC title implications for both teams, and Volunteers coach Rick Barnes noted beforehand the healthy respect he has for Tigers coach Bruce Pearl.

The two have gone against each other numerous times over the years, producing some excellent matchups.

“I think every time you play Auburn, I mean Bruce is just a terrific coach and does a great job,” Rick Barnes said. “His schemes are good and the teams play hard, aggressive.”

The two programs faced off twice last year, splitting the two meetings. Each team won at home, though the two meetings couldn’t have been more different.

Tennessee won the first showdown 46-43 in an absolute defensive war. The second game had a bit more offense in the electric environment at Auburn, and the Tigers rode the home crowd to a 79-70 win.

“Last year here that was not a really pretty game for either one of us,” Rick Barnes said. “I think it was in the 40s. But you just, again, the respect that we have for him and his program, our guys, the older guys especially that have been there, they know what to expect.”

One thing to expect: Auburn big man Johni Broome will have an outsized impact.

Tennessee preparing for Johni Broome

If Tennessee hopes to pull out a win against Auburn it’ll need to at least slow down big man Johni Broome. Broome has been excellent all season long.

He was good in both games last year, too. In two games against Tennessee last year, Broome averaged 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 1.5 steals.

Barnes broke down how difficult he is to defend based on what he can do.

“He does pass the ball extremely well for his position,” Rick Barnes said. “But he’s a shot-blocker. He can do that. Obviously he gets inside I think he’s poised, patient with the ball and you try to throw different defenses at him. He’s going to look around and try to find the right guy to make the right play.”

Auburn and Tennessee are set to tip off at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with a national broadcast set for ESPN2.