This could be the Achilles heel for Auburn basketball vs Mississippi State

Auburn basketball is a pack of wounded animals right now. Tigers to be precise.

Blood was drawn at the Thompson-Boling Arena this past Saturday as AU fell to Tennessee 67-62. Now, the margin for error is razor-thin for the Tigers as they look to claim sole possession of an SEC regular-season championship this week.

Before the final home game for Jabari Smith in an Auburn uniform ahead of a long career as an NBA star, Mississippi State hosts the final regular-season road game of Smith’s collegiate career.

It could also be Walker Kessler’s. There’s just as much talk for the Tigers pivot to be SEC Player of the Year due to a historic campaign defensively.

The frontcourt pair’s lockdown ability to secure the glass and scare shooters out of the paint and even away from taking 3-point shots is the backbone for the team’s success. Particularly on the road where their deep shooting has collectively lacked.

That said, the pair’s ability to stay on the floor is an exploitable weakness, especially for a Mississippi State offensive attack that gets to the free throw line with frequency.

As the Auburn Observer’s Justin Ferguson points out in response to Bruce Pearl’s comments about his team’s fouling habits, there could be a perfect storm brewing…though certainly not perfect for the Auburn family…

Auburn basketball must avoid foul trouble to avoid their first losing streak

So long as the Tigers aren’t forced to play seldom-used lineup combinations, Auburn should be able to overcome a surging Mississippi State team that has won three of their last four games.

But there’s a weakness that Coach Pearl recognizes cannot go unchecked.