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Auburn Basketball: Missouri loss exposes why ’17-’18 a key year for Pearl

By Chris Roush

Feb 18, 2017; College Station, TX, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl on the sidelines against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Reed Arena. Texas A&M won 81-62. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2017; College Station, TX, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl on the sidelines against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Reed Arena. Texas A&M won 81-62. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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2. Cohesiveness

auburn basketball
Mar 8, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Jared Harper (1) and Missouri Tigers guard Jordan Geist (15) battle for the ball during game two of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

While Auburn’s offense averaged 80.4 points per game, averaging 33rd in the NCAA, it often resorted to one player going one-on-one against his defender while his teammates watched. Exhibit A is the first half against Missouri on Tuesday night.

This is not a team that understands the right time to shoot a 3-pointer and the right time to get the ball down low to Austin Wiley on the block. (Hint: It’s not when he’s being double teamed.) Wiley virtually disappeared on offense during the last five or six games. He’s got the size and offensive skills to be a force, but his teammates didn’t properly utilize him.

Run and gun is fun, but it’s also an easy way for a team to get out of its rhythm. When you’re making shots, everyone is having a good time. But when you’re not making shots, it’s time to be more patient and find out what else might work.

That didn’t happen during many key games this year.

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