Bruce Pearl hoping Tigers don't roll 7s in Las Vegas
AUBURN -- Bruce Pearl is hoping what happens for Auburn in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas.
Unless of course, the Tigers lose.
Auburn (2-1) plays Tulsa in its first of two games in the Heavyweight bracket of the MGM Grand Main Event tonight at 10 p.m. CT. The championship game and consolation game are both Wednesday night, with Oklahoma State and Oregon State also in the inaugural field of the tournament.
"As an educator, to be able to get these kids to see a different part of the country, it's exciting for them to be here and experience it. Las Vegas is a spectacular city," Pearl said. "Obviously the quality of the field. Two teams in the field, Oklahoma State and Tulsa, were in the NCAA Tournament last year. This is a really well run tournament and we are able to play in the venue where they host the Pac-12 Tournament."
Pearl was seeking a tough test in his quest for neutral site games this season and he found it in the Golden Hurricane, coached by Frank Haith, formerly of Missouri, and either the Beavers or Cowboys.
"I feel like this is going to prepare us for SEC play come January," said forward Jordon Granger, who is coming off a career-best 14-point and six rebound performance in Auburn's 105-80 win over Louisiana-Lafayette. "I feel that is good for a team like us that has not been winning a lot in the past to go against tougher opponents."
Tulsa (2-1) has outrebounded its first three opponents by a total of 124-97, with 6-foot-9 D'Andre Wright averaging 6.3 boards per game.
"They are going to play us a lot of zone. I think," Pearl said. "They are going to pack in the defense, they don't extend much."
Auburn will likely have to play tonight's game without starting guard Antoine Mason, who is "unlikely" to play but a game-time decision as he continues to recover from an ankle sprain.
The week will be full of challenges for Auburn, which is taking incremental steps in Pearl's rebuilding plan.
"Our goal is for Auburn basketball to be relevant in the world of college basketball," Pearl said. "We have to be able to participate and compete in tournaments like this."
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WHEN: 10 p.m. today
WHERE: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
RECORDS: Auburn (2-1); Tulsa (2-1)
ON THE AIR: TV — ESPNU; Radio — WMSP-AM 740, WLWI-FM 92.3
AUBURN LINEUP: G K.C. Ross-Miller (6-0, GS) 10.7 ppg.; G Tahj Shamsid-Deen (5-9, So.) 8.3 ppg.; G K.T. Harrell (6-4, Sr.) 21.3 ppg.; F Jordon Granger (6-5, Jr.) 7.3 ppg., 4.7 rpg.; F Cinmeon Bowers (6-7, Jr.) 16.3 ppg., 14.0 rpg.
TULSA LINEUP: G James Woodard (6-3, Jr.) 11.0 ppg., 5.0 rpg.; G Rashad Ray (5-10, So.) 7.0 ppg.; G Shaquille Harrison (6-3, Jr.) 5.7 ppg.; F Rashad Smith (6-7, Jr.) 8.7 ppg., 6.0 rpg.; F D'Andre Wright (6-9, Jr.) 15.7 ppg., 6.3 rpg.
NOTEWORTHY: This is one of two games in the Heavyweight Bracket of the MGM Grand Main Event, with Oregon State and Oklahoma State playing in the other. The championship game will be at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday on ESPN2 and the consolation game will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday. … K.T. Harrell has scored 20 points in all three games this season and is second in the SEC in scoring (21.3 points). … Cinmeon Bowers has three straight double-doubles and leads the SEC in rebounding (14 per game). …. Graduate student Antoine Mason is questionable for tonight's game. He has missed the last two games due to an ankle sprain. … Auburn is playing in Las Vegas for the first time since playing UNLV in 2003. … Auburn is coming off a 105-80 win over Louisiana-Lafayette, which Tulsa defeated 64-53. The 105 points against were Auburn's most since a 105-56 win over Grambling State on Nov. 29, 2003, a span of 340 games. … Auburn holds a 2-0 edge all-time against Tulsa, last winning in the 2009 NIT.