Kentucky excited for 'crazy environment' at Auburn, but pressure is on Tigers

Auburn students have been camping outside of Neville Arena — or Pearlville, as some call it — since late Tuesday night. Some students even left the Tigers’ 40-point win over No. 11 South Carolina on Tuesday early to get a head start for what’s in store this weekend.

Why? Because Kentucky comes to town on Saturday and ESPN’s College Gameday is set to host the primetime showdown. Auburn students want to get the best possible seat, which will located be right behind the Wildcats’ bench. Once again, Kentucky will enter enemy territory with a massive target on its back. But the players are looking forward to taking the floor where Auburn fans will be loud from start to finish.

“We excited. I’m excited as well just knowing the type of environment we’re gonna play in and the type of team we’re gonna play against,” Freshman guard DJ Wagner said on Friday. “They a good team, they a great team, well coached, and they’re a competitive team as much as we is. I feel like it’s gonna be fun and it’s gonna be a good game.”

“Crazy environment,” Freshman wing Justin Edwards said of what’s looking forward to. “I be watching little highlights of their student section. Ain’t it right behind our bench, right? So just being prepared for that.”

Kentucky has already played in big road games this season. “Texas A&M was crazy,” Edwards said. Going on the road against South Carolina and Florida featured rowdy environments too. Even when UK beat North Carolina in a neutral setting in Atlanta, the fans were intense on both sides.

Auburn will be a little bit different though. The No. 13 Tigers have yet to lose at Neville Arena this season (13-0). With Kentucky up next and ESPN pumping up the matchup, the crowd could be at its peak. But at the same time, that puts a lot of pressure on Auburn to show up and embrace the moment.

“They haven’t (lost at home), but Coach (Calipari) says it’s College Gameday, so all the pressure is on them,” Edwards added. “So they have to come out and play hard and we’re gonna come out and play hard too.”

There’s some truth to that. All eyes will be on Auburn comes Saturday night. The Tigers have won four of its last five while Kentucky has dropped four of its last seven. There will still be plenty of pressure on the ‘Cats as they try to get things rolling ahead of March, but if Auburn wants to prove they can contend for a national championship, this is their best opportunity so far to do so.

For Kentucky, they can’t let the crowd get into their minds. Edwards credited fifth-year forward Tre Mitchell as someone who can calm down the rest of the team, but a shoulder injury could prevent him from suiting up on Saturday. If that’s the case, Kentucky has to stay locked in, no matter what happens during the ebbs and flows of the game.

“Just staying together,” Edwards added. “Not letting the crowd get to us, just staying together throughout the whole game, ups and downs. Basketball is a game of runs. They might start out hot early, just staying together the whole entire game.”

Tipoff between Kentucky and Auburn is set for 6:00 p.m. EST on ESPN tomorrow night.

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