Auburn looking to turn last year’s ‘nightmares’ into ‘memories’ against Arizona

The Auburn Tigers and Arizona Wildcats did battle on Dec. 6, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona, a nonconference game that many looked forward to and one that saw a lot of lessons be learned.

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Typically, a matchup like that would be considered a memorable game. For the Tigers, not so much.

“I wouldn't call those memories. I'd call those nightmares,” said Auburn Head Coach Steven Pearl.

The Tigers fell 97-68 to the Wildcats on that December evening, giving up five double-digit-point performances to Tommy Lloyd’s squad while also shooting just 33% from the field. 

According to Pearl, there was a long list of things that were learned from that night. In preparation for this game at Neville Arena, Auburn had to revisit the film and look back at what the 2025 meeting was in order to come up with answers for when Arizona makes its visit.

“I think to learn and figure out what we have to do tomorrow night, we had to talk about and show what last year looked like, and no one can speak to that experience better than those two because they were there,” Pearl said. “It was our worst offensive performance of the year and our second-worst defensive performance of the year. And they had a lot to do with that. We didn't execute, but that was because they had great ball pressure.”

The Tigers’ welcoming in of the Wildcats will be the highest ranked nonconference opponent coming to the Plains in program history, making for a new experience and an early-season rowdy environment.

Now, it’s a chance for Auburn to make history and actual memories this time around. The Tigers are excited about this opportunity as a result, ready for the atmosphere they are about to have inside Neville Arena.

“Excited for another great opportunity,” Pearl said. “This is a unique game, because you don't get the opportunity to play ranked opponents in the non-conference at home anymore. Usually, you have to play them at neutral sites. In conference play, this is another game. But it's pretty cool for our fans to have an opportunity to see a non-conference game of this caliber against a historic program.”

In the game in Tucson, Arizona shot 61% from the field and 40% from 3-point range, while also notching 23 assists for the night. 

It was a game where Auburn could not find a rhythm on defense, and even the small spurts that it did, there was no stopping the Wildcats, who were dominant from the jump.

“We weren't great defensively, but that's because they had unbelievable size at every position, and they made shots, and they made us pay for the things that we were trying to do,” Pearl said. “We didn't make multiple efforts. We just did a lot of things the way we don't want to do them, and that's something that we've got to clean up on.”

There are two players on this Tigers squad that remember that game all too well in Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton, who are the two returners that played key minutes last season.

So is it safe to say that Pearl is leaning on them to lead in a big game like this? There is merit there. However, the head coach also knows that it does not matter what happens, his team still has 40 minutes of basketball to play.

“Those guys can pull from experience because they were there, and there's some value in that,” Pearl said. “But at the end of the day, you can talk about it all you want. You've got to go out there and perform. I know those guys are excited about that opportunity and excited about playing another really good team.”

With all of the stars from Arizona stepping on the court for this game like Caleb Holt, Mo Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov, the matchup is certain to be emotional in an environment that has not seen this caliber of a home nonconference game ever. 

Pearl is ready for what Neville Arena will be, especially if last season in the McKale Center was any indication.

“Excited for our fans,” Pearl said. “Last year, that was probably one of the best environments that, as a coach or a player, I've ever been in. Was really impressed, and I'm excited for The Jungle and our fans to reciprocate that environment.”

Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.