FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson has a higher winning percentage in Auburn Arena than he does in Walton Arena.
Anderson's Razorbacks are 103-15 in Walton Arena in his seven seasons for an .872 winning percentage.
That's impressive, but Anderson has a 1.000 winning percentage at Auburn Arena, where his Razorbacks are 4-0. Anderson will try to get to 5-0 when the Razorbacks play Auburn at 5 p.m. today.
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville men's basketball team never has lost in Auburn Arena since it opened for the 2010-2011 season.
The Razorbacks are 5-0, including a 57-55 victory in 2011 during John Pelphrey's last season as their coach.
Since Anderson became the coach, the Razorbacks have won at Auburn 77-71 in 2012, 83-75 in 2013, 101-87 in 2015 and 79-68 in 2017.
Anderson said Arkansas' perfect record at Auburn Arena doesn't give the Razorbacks a psychological edge.
"That has nothing to do with what's going to take place in this game," he said. "They're a different team, and we're a different team than last year.
"We just have to go on the road in a tough environment and play with a lot of confidence and a lot of emotion and really get after it."
Perhaps Auburn should consider moving the game to Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum when Arkansas visits, considering the Tigers were 12-7 against the Razorbacks in Auburn's former basketball facility, including 9-3 from 1999 to 2010.
Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum is expected to be demolished at some point, but for now it has offices for some athletic department employees. No sporting events are held there.
Let's go
Arkansas and Auburn are the SEC's two highest-scoring teams.
The Razorbacks have scored 92 or more points nine times, including a 104-69 victory over Oral Roberts University, and are averaging an SEC-best 89.3 points.
"It's going to be a great opportunity to play against a team that wants to go up and down the floor with us," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said.
Four Razorbacks are averaging more than 11 points, led by senior guards Jaylen Barford (18.7) and Daryl Macon (17.2).
"Offensively, they're probably the best team in the league," Auburn Coach Bruce Pearl said. "They have so many great weapons and so many productive players who can score on multiple levels.
"Coach Anderson does a great job of putting his players in space for them to make those plays."
The Razorbacks have 38 runs of 7-0 or better in 14 games.
"That's like three 7-0 runs a game," Pearl said. "It's impressive, so we have to be able to guard our yard and be able to get back in transition."
Auburn has four players averaging more than 10 points, led by junior guard Bryce Brown (15.9) and sophomore guard Mustapha Heron (15.8).
"You let players determine their own roles. You don't determine their roles for them," Pearl said of the Tigers' scoring balance. "The guys that shoot the best percentages shoot the most shots, and they should. It's simple because these guys know each other and they trust each other.
"Nobody knows more than a player what a player can and can't do. If a player goes outside of that, his teammates know that. That doesn't mean we don't allow players freedom. We've always allowed players freedom.
"That's why we've historically been a high-scoring team in the SEC. We'll always be, because I love giving my players freedom. You get the chance to win when players take advantage of their strengths and stay away from their weaknesses."
Jones struggling
Razorbacks sophomore guard C.J. Jones is shooting 45.9 percent from the field (45 of 98) and 41.3 percent on three-point attempts (26-63), but he's in a slump.
Jones is 2 of 14 from the field -- including 1 of 8 on three-pointers -- in the past three games as his scoring average has fallen from 11.1 points to 9.1.
"I think he just has to be more assertive, be more aggressive," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. "That's all. I look forward to him playing a lot better as we move forward."
Don't get cocky
Auburn Coach Bruce Pearl wants to make sure the Tigers guard against being overconfident considering they've won 11 consecutive games.
"I talked to the team about it a little bit simply because they are young and you can't assume anything," Pearl said. "But we are very hungry, and we all know where we're picked.
"We're not good enough to be overlooking or overconfident for anybody, and we know it's a fine line for us."
Yo, Adrio
Razorbacks sophomore forward Adrio Bailey was big off the bench at Mississippi State with 10 points and 6 rebounds in 18 minutes before fouling out.
"That's the Adrio I've been seeing in practice," Mike Anderson said. "When we started off, you have to remember, this guy was starting for us."
Bailey, who is averaging 6.3 points and 3.6 rebounds, started the first seven games before being replaced by senior Dustin Thomas.
In the SEC opener against Tennessee that the Razorbacks won 95-93 in overtime, Bailey didn't have any points or rebounds in five minutes.
"It's just that growth period with the young guys," Anderson said of Bailey's inconsistency. "They just have to go play. You can't look over your shoulder. Just go play, and play with confidence. Play with a sense of urgency."
Another 13-1 in SEC
Mississippi State improved to 13-1 with a 78-75 victory over Arkansas on Tuesday night. Now the Razorbacks have to face another 13-1 team in Auburn.
"I think it's probably more balanced than it's ever been," Mike Anderson said of the SEC. "I mean, from top to bottom.
"Whether it be at home or on the road, man, you've got to come with it and you've got to play good basketball for 40 minutes."
Sports on 01/06/2018