The Auburn Tigers faced a potentially tricky situation in their Tuesday night matchup against Vanderbilt, coming off a loss to Florida just days earlier. The Tigers were tasked with playing a dangerous Vanderbilt team at the intimidating Memorial Gymnasium, just one game before an epic showdown against No. 1 Alabama. The stakes were high, and a loss could have set them back even further.
However, Auburn rose to the challenge, avoiding what could have been a classic trap game. They came out with a solid performance, defeating the Commodores 80-68. Not only did this win help maintain excitement for the upcoming clash with Alabama, but it also put the Tigers back on track after their Florida loss. For head coach Bruce Pearl, the victory provided valuable insights into how the team needs to perform at its best.
“I learned that when we are locked in and flying around, engaged defensively, we could be pretty good,” Pearl said in a press conference on Thursday. “But when we sit back, don’t play with the same intensity, and aren’t as alert, we become vulnerable.”
Pearl’s observations pointed to a key weakness in Auburn’s losses this season: poor defense. Against Duke, the Tigers failed to disrupt the Blue Devils’ offense, allowing them to score freely, leading to Auburn’s first loss of the season. The game marked the highest point total the Tigers had surrendered so far. Similarly, the loss to Florida was another defensive breakdown, as Auburn gave up a season-high 90 points, with several Florida players having standout performances.
Walter Clayton Jr., in particular, caused major problems for Auburn, scoring 19 points, dishing out nine assists, and hitting four 3-pointers. Pearl had outlined a game plan to contain him, but it quickly became clear that the Tigers weren’t executing it. “It just required multiple efforts, and we just didn’t give it,” Pearl admitted.
In contrast, Auburn’s defense was much improved against Vanderbilt. The Tigers held the Commodores
About The Author
