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Auburn guard Mustapha Heron is averaging 16.1 points and 6.2 rebounds. (Dakota Sumpter/Auburn Athletics)
(Dakota Sumpter)
Auburn is over 1,100 miles from Uncasville, Connecticut but the Tigers could have home court advantage thanks to Mustapha Heron, who hails from the Nutmeg state.
A native of nearby Waterbury, Heron led Sacred Heart high school to three straight state championships before coming to Auburn.
Supporters will be busing in to watch Heron and Auburn (8-2) take on Oklahoma tonight (7:30 p.m. CT, CBS SN) at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
"It means the world to me knowing that there is support from back home and everybody is still tuned in," Heron said. "I have a lot of people still talk to me about every game and people watch every game back at home. People were getting the SEC Network, paying for it out of their pockets, just to watch me play. That means a lot."
Heron, who is averaging 16.1 points and 6.2 rebounds, has provided Auburn fans near and far with plenty to watch so far this season.
The program's first five-star signee is the first Auburn freshman to score at least 10 points in his first 10 college games since Wesley Person in 1990-91.
Prior to last week's game against Boston College at Madison Square Garden, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl did not speak with Heron about what was an initial homecoming of sorts. Pearl planned to speak with his star guard about not letting all the friends and family in attendance impact his game tonight and Friday against UConn.
"I want Mustapha to be aggressive," Pearl said. "I want him to score, I want him to make plays defensively and rebound because his strength is he's got a complete game. So, I don't want to get him to back down from being aggressive.
"At the same time, I don't want him to worry about being defined by his numbers, his shots. He can have tremendous impact on the floor being aggressive, but not to worry because there are some nights he's going to put up some numbers, and there are some nights he's not, and just because he's going back home, he can't worry about that stuff."
Auburn's first of two games in three days comes against Oklahoma, which is a far different squad than last season's team with national Player of the Year Buddy Hield.
The Sooners (6-4) are averaging nearly identical scoring numbers to the Tigers, as both are scoring over 81 points per game while allowing over 72.
"They're very athletic, they're really deep, they play really hard, they're great in transition and they've got some really terrific players," Pearl said. "... This will be the biggest and the most athletic team that we've played so far, and one of the most athletic teams and deepest teams that we'll play this year."