The Auburn men's basketball team will face its toughest opponent in years today against No. 2 Kentucky. Here's how today's story starts:

AUBURN, Ala. — Mentally sifting through Auburn’s opponents the last five years, Jeff Lebo leaned back in his chair and paused: has he faced a better team than No. 2 Kentucky in his time on the Plains?

The closest approximation the coach could come up with was No. 2 Pittsburgh in 2006.

“They had a lot of pro players. This team has a lot of NBA players,” Lebo said. “There’s a difference.”

Auburn (9-8, 0-2 SEC) will face its stiffest test in years when the Wildcats, one of the two remaining unbeatens in Division I (No. 1 Texas is the other), visit Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum this afternoon at 4.

Invigorated by first-year coach John Calipari and a freshman class flush with blue-chip prospects, Kentucky (17-0, 2-0) has reclaimed its spot as top-dog in the SEC, off to its best start since going 23-0 to begin the 1965-66 season.

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