No. 2 Kentucky 68, Auburn 53: Tigers’ upset bid of Wildcats falls short

Moral victories suck. If your team has “won” a moral victory, that means it fought tooth and nail against a superior opponent, only to fall short in the end and leave its fans heartbroken. When there was optimistic talk of a moral victory after the 2009 Iron Bowl, I couldn’t help but look at some of my fellow Auburn fans as if they were crazy. How could they be so optimistic when I felt like I was going to throw up for weeks on end?

Despite the above paragraph, it’s hard not to feel pretty good about the most recent loss to Kentucky. For the first 30-35 minutes of the game, Auburn controlled the glass, executed its offense very well and stifled the Wildcats with a 2-3 zone defense. The Tigers succumbed to Kentucky’s superior talent and athleticism in the end, but the performance was certainly one that Barbee’s squad can build on.

A FEW THINGS AUBURN DID WELL

Auburn won the rebounding battle. Auburn came away with a 29-25 rebound advantage over Kentucky, and until the ‘Cats pulled away late, it wasn’t nearly that close. Rob Chubb led the way with eight and was one of three Tigers to grab three offensive boards. Auburn had 11 offensive rebounds and scored some critical second-chance points, including a couple of thunderous put-back dunks by Kenny Gabriel. Auburn stayed in the game be creating multiple scoring opportunities on the offensive end and limiting Kentucky to one shot on many possessions.

Chubb and Chris Denson were mostly sensational. Until they started missing forced shots late in the game, both Chubb and Denson played lights out. Not only did the combine for 26 points and 12 rebounds, they combined to hit 4-of-6 free-throw attempts. That last stat isn’t spectacular, but considering Auburn’s woes at the line, it’s something Tigers fans will take any day.

Free-throw shooting was actually a strong suit. Entering the Kentucky game, Auburn was shooting a paltry 64.7 percent from the free-throw line. Somehow, the Tigers managed to go 10-of-12 against Kentucky. There’s no telling where that anomaly came from, but hopefully, it becomes a trend.

Auburn mostly stayed out of foul trouble. Kenny Gabriel was in foul trouble for most of the game, but the rest of Barbee’s team avoided fouling until it became a forced strategy near the end. In its game against Vanderbilt, Auburn picked up six team fouls in the first three minutes of the game, setting the tone for a timid defensive performance and giving the Commodores a chance to pick up plenty of free points. The Tigers corrected that problem against Kentucky, which was a major factor in their staying in the game.

A FEW THINGS AUBURN DIDN’T DO SO WELL

Too many turnovers. Auburn finished with 15 turnovers, just above its season average of 14. It’s tough to win games when you turn the ball over that many times, and it’s nearly impossible against a team as good as Kentucky. Chubb had a nice game, but he also led the way with four giveaways. Barbee has to find a way to make improvement in this area.

3-point shooting was non-existent. It’s not uncommon for Auburn to live and die at the 3-point line, and the Tigers died there on Wednesday night. Cheers to Frankie Sullivan, who made Auburn’s lone 3 in 12 attempts behind the perimeter. If you didn’t know the final score of an Auburn basketball game, you could simply check the 3-point stats in the Tigers’ boxscore to find out which team won the game. When Auburn struggles from behind the arc, it usually has a hard time winning. The Kentucky game was no exception.

Sullivan, Kenny Gabriel and Varez Ward didn’t contribute much. Gabriel had a couple of energizing dunks, grabbed a few rebounds and blocked three shots, but that was pretty much it for a trio that needs to play well to give Auburn a chance. The three combined to shoot 6-of-19 for 17 points and eight rebounds. Chubb nearly produced those numbers by himself.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN

Auburn is definitely an entirely different team at home than on the road, and that’s nothing new. The fact that the same team that lost by a combined 59 points in its previous two games on the road could hang with the No. 2 team in the country for 35 minutes at home proves that. Whatever the reason for it, Auburn should be proud and confident after its performance against Kentucky. The Tigers held the Wildcats to 12 points fewer than their season average and 16 percent below their average field goal percentage. Allowing the ‘Cats to go on a 23-6 run over the final 10 minutes of the game hurt, but it was really only a matter of time that a team as talented as Kentucky would pull away from a team still trying to build its way up into a contender. That Auburn was in the game at all speaks volumes for Barbee’s squad. If he can get his players to play with the same effort and intensity for the rest of the season, there will definitely be a few SEC wins in the Tigers’ future.

For analysis from the Kentucky perspective, head on over to Wildcat Blue Nation.