The Auburn Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies are two of the most storied basketball programs in the Southeastern Conference. The two teams have met multiple times before and the Tigers had always held an advantage. However, in recent years, the Aggies have had the upper hand. They have won five of the last seven meetings between the two teams.?
The Tigers were hoping to get revenge on Friday night, but they were unable to overcome the Aggies’ strong performance and fell flat in their first loss. Among fans who felt the sting was the Tigers alumnus turned Rockets star.
A frustrating defeat for the Tigers
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The match against Texas A&M was a tough one for the Tigers. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to secure a victory, marking their second defeat of the season. This loss was frustrating for Jabari Smith Jr., who expressed his disappointment on Twitter, writing, ?War Eagle?.this is so frustrating to watch??.
War Eagle?.this is so frustrating to watch?
? Jabari Smith Jr (@jabarismithjr) September 23, 2023
The Aggie defense recorded multiple sacks throughout the game, putting pressure on the Auburn offense. And their defense continued to stifle Auburn?s offense.?
Max Johnson from Texas made key plays and emerged as the shining quarterback. The Tigers had difficulty converting on third downs, which limited their offensive success. Texas finally secured a 27-10 victory over Auburn.
From Auburn alumnus to NBA star
Jabari Smith Jr. played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers for one season, in 2021-22. He was unanimously a five-star recruit and one of the top players. Smith entered Auburn as the highest-ranked player to commit to the program, choosing it over other prospective offers from Georgia, North Carolina, and even LSU.
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Jabari had a stellar freshman season where he averaged 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. Smith helped lead Auburn to the SEC regular season championship and the program’s first-ever No. 1 ranking.
In the NCAA Tournament, he shined again and led Auburn by averaging 18.8 points and 7.3 rebounds. Smith was named to the NCAA Tournament All-South Region Team.
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Jabari Smith is a young player, and he continues to make strides in the NBA. His average score has increased from his rookie season and the new season brings another opportunity.