The Ohio State Buckeyes (6-3, 1-1) will face a tough challenge as they head to Atlanta’s State Farm Arena for the Holiday Hoopsgiving Event to take on the No. 2 Auburn Tigers (8-1). The event also features Florida vs. Arizona State and Grand Canyon vs. Georgia, with Ohio State and Auburn tipping off at 1:00 p.m. ET, followed by the Gators and Sun Devils at 3:30 p.m., and the Antelopes and Bulldogs wrapping up the action at 6:00 p.m.
Auburn’s Season So Far
Few teams have faced a tougher schedule than Auburn. The Tigers have played against top-ranked teams such as No. 4 Houston, No. 5 Iowa State, No. 9 Duke, No. 12 North Carolina, and Memphis. Their only loss came against Duke in Durham, 84-78. They are coming off a dominant 98-54 win over Richmond and will play No. 11 Purdue next week.
According to KenPom, Auburn ranks No. 1 overall, leading in offensive efficiency and ranking No. 22 in defensive efficiency.
Ohio State’s Recent Performances
Ohio State bounced back from a Big Ten-opening loss to Maryland with an 80-66 win over Rutgers, evening their conference record at 1-1. The Buckeyes are ranked No. 28 overall by KenPom, sitting at No. 21 in offensive efficiency and No. 37 in defensive efficiency.
Key Players to Watch Auburn:
Johni Broome: A national player of the year contender, Broome leads Auburn in points (19.6), rebounds (11.9), assists (3.6), and blocks (2.8). He’s shooting 56.6% from the field and has been dominant inside the paint.
Chad Baker-Mazara: Averaging 13.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game
Tahaad Pettiford & Miles Kelly: Contributing 11.3 and 11.0 points per game, respectively.
Ohio State:
Bruce Thornton: The junior point guard and team captain averages 16.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. He’s shooting 56% from the field, 53% from three, and 82% from the free-throw line.
Devin Royal: The sophomore forward is averaging 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds on 62% shooting.
John Mobley Jr.: The freshman sharpshooter averages 12.9 points per game, hitting 55% of his three-pointers.
Micah Parrish & Meechie Johnson: Averaging 10.2 and 9.6 points per game, respectively.
Sophomore transfer center Aaron Bradshaw could provide valuable size against Auburn’s frontcourt but remains questionable due to a return-to-play process after a university investigation.
Prediction
Auburn’s dominance on both ends of the court, combined with Broome’s inside presence, poses a significant challenge for Ohio State. If Bradshaw plays, he could help defend the paint, though stopping Broome will still be difficult.
Ohio State’s strength lies in its efficient shooting from the field (50%) and three-point range (42%), though its free-throw shooting (67.6%) has been a concern.
Expect Auburn to control the game with its size and depth. However, if Ohio State can keep it close, it would signal their ability to compete with top-tier teams, boosting their confidence heading into Big Ten play.
