In the realm of college basketball, Auburn has emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Their recent victory over Ohio State in the annual Holiday Hoopsgiving event in Atlanta showcased their exceptional skills and unwavering dominance. This win not only solidified their position but also erased any doubts about their claim to the No. 1 ranking.

Auburn's Basketball Triumph: A Dominant Force on the Court

Fast Start: Setting the Tone Early

Just as Auburn has been doing throughout this season, they launched a blitz against Ohio State right from the start. In the early stages of the game, they led the Buckeyes by a significant margin of 25 - 8 at the second media timeout. This remarkable run was fueled by their accurate shooting from beyond the arc, with five made 3-pointers. Moreover, Auburn's defense was on point, not allowing Ohio State's guards to find their rhythm from the perimeter. Johni Broome, Auburn's All-American big man, was a key contributor during this run, scoring 11 points in various ways - whether it was in the post, driving to the basket, or from the 3-point line. His presence opened up the offense for his teammates, creating more space for Auburn's shooters to shine. Ohio State tried to weather the initial storm, but they never managed to get back in the game. Even with a nearly seven-minute scoreless drought, Auburn took a commanding 28-point lead into halftime and never lost control.

3-Point Defense: Shutting Down the Opponent

This season, Ohio State's strength has been their 3-point shooting, particularly from their guards. However, against Auburn, they found it extremely difficult to find success from the outside. Ohio State's first made 3-pointer didn't come until the 1:29 mark of the first half, and they missed their first four attempts before that. In fact, the Buckeyes finished the game with just six made 3-pointers and a season-low 16 attempts. This defensive performance was reminiscent of Auburn's game against Memphis, where they held the Tigers to a mere nine 3-point attempts. The combination of Auburn's aggressive defense forcing Ohio State off the 3-point line and their own hot shooting night led to the game getting out of hand quickly.

Back to Business: Asserting Dominance

After their loss to Duke, there were doubts about Auburn's claim to be the No. 1 team in the country. But on Saturday, those doubts were completely erased. Auburn was dominant, as we have come to expect from them. What stood out, however, was the level of dominance they displayed against an opponent like Ohio State. While Ohio State may not be on the same level as teams like Duke, Iowa State, or Houston, they are still a formidable team. They entered the game as the No. 28 team in KenPom's efficiency rankings and had wins against Texas and Rutgers. Yet, Auburn handled the Buckeyes with the same ease as they did against teams like Richmond and North Alabama. Auburn was already No. 1 in KenPom coming into the game, and it's unlikely to change. Now, it's up to the voters to make their decision on Sunday, and Auburn definitely gave them a lot to think about.Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at prauterkus@al.com.