Auburn — If Saturday's Auburn vs Kentucky is indeed the "clash of the Titans" that Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl has advertised, it's not their first matchup against Kentucky coach John Calipari to meet that billing.
2019 was the Elite Eight, when Auburn defeated Kentucky 77-71 to enter the first last four of the program. The 2008 game was when Pearl coached Tennessee and Calipari coached Memphis. It was a classic between the No. 2 and No. 1 teams in the country. Pearl Walls ended Memphis' perfect season in a 66-62 thriller: "The environment was like the Super Bowl," Pearl recalled Thursday.
But in terms of importance, even that game doesn't match the next Pearl-Calipri Showdown. At least in Perl's mind. When No. 2 Auburn (17-1, 6-0 SEC) meets No. 12 Kentucky (15-3, 5-1) on Saturday (12 p.m., CBS), the winner will be first in the SEC. More regular-season matchups between the Tigers and Wildcats.
"It really matters more" than the 2008 game, Pearl said. "It doesn't matter if you're 1 or 2: both teams are playing for the championship."
He also framed the game's reference to his eight-year Auburn tenure: "It's probably the biggest home game since I've been coaching."
This is the 12th season the Tigers have played at Auburn Arena. The two top-12 teams never met at the venue. Pearl, never shy about tossing an exaggeration, was candid about the importance of this matchup. Auburn has won 14 in a row and is also lobbying for its first No. 1 ranking in the program's history.
"Remove the rankings: the winner of this game has to move on to at least the control of the regular season championship, as we only play them once," he said. "So this is a great opportunity for any team to put themselves in a position where everyone is watching you."