Bruce Pearl: “They’re Better Than the Final Four Team”

The Tigers and the Crimson Tide will face off inside Coleman Coliseum on Saturday afternoon for the first of two regular-season matchups this season. Auburn, ranked as the No. 1 team in the country, is currently a 1.5-point underdog to No. 2 Alabama on Saturday according to Draftkings.

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On Thursday, Auburn's head coach met with the media ahead of the star-studded matchup on Saturday.

Pearl had high praise for the Crimson Tide, saying this year's 21-3 Alabama team is better than the Alabama team that made the Final Four last season.

This year's team is much better than last year's Final Four team," Pearl said. 

Last year's Crimson Tide team averaged 90.8 points per game shooting 47.7% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range. Four players averaged double-figure points: Mark Sears, Aaron Estrada, Grant Nelson, and Rylan Griffin.

This year's Alabama team averages 90.5 points per game shooting 48.4% from the field and 34.4% from three-point range. Five Tide players are averaging double-figure points this season: Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Aden Holloway, Labaron Philon, and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Wrightsll suffered a season-ending injury in November).

Alabama's offense is ranked as the No. 2 offense in the nation with a 127.2 rating. Pearl knows what the Alabama offense can bring to the table.

"Our defense is going to have to be really, really good," Bruce Pearl said.

Wyatt Fulton is the TIde 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.