re: #tAuburnBasketball Thread

Idk about that, but Malik Dunbar is officially making the trip now and Pearl says that transition defense and rebounding will be the main things we focus on in these games. Both those things make me happy.

LINK

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"We're trying to fix some things that ailed us last year and one of those was transition defense," Pearl said. "I think this summer we're going to try to go from one of the worst team's in the country to at least much better. Because we play so fast and because we are committed to up-tempo basketball, we're going to give up things in transition more than most. If you play end-of-the-clock, slow-down basketball, you're going to be good in transition because first of all, there's not going to be that many opportunities and second of all, you're not going to shoot it quick, there will be no run-outs.

"That's never going to be us, but we are going to be better in that area."

Auburn allowed 79.6 points per game last season, which ranked 321 of 347 Division I teams. However, in Ken Pom's adjusted defensive efficiency rankings Auburn was No. 145 with 103.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. That was the highest points allowed in Pearl's three seasons on the Plains and one of many defensive statistics he wants to change this season.

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Perhaps most important is a tweak on offense, where bad shot selection was an issue and it led to transition opportunities.

"The biggest thing is a little more floor balance on offense, a few less 'huh?' shots,'" Pearl said. "Like 'Huh? I had no idea he was going to take that shot, therefore I didn't even think about going to get an offensive rebound or rotating back.' The second thing is just a real sense of urgency, a real sense of accountability.

"Knowing, why do we play fast? Why do we push the break? We push the break because it's hard to get back and get matched up and we want to take advantage of that. So therefore, if we know that's where they have an advantage, then we need to make sure that's an emphasis and I've just made it an emphasis."

Rebounding, whether in transition or not, was another area of weakness that's been emphasized this preseason. Auburn's rebounding margin was minus-2.4 per game last season, which ranked 13th in the SEC and No. 270 nationally.

"We have to drill it more and change habits," Pearl said. "If the ball gets shot, some of our guards just (watch the ball). That's not going to cut it."

There are personnel adjustments that should benefit the Tigers on the defensive end. Horace Spencer playing mainly at power forward and less at center and Danjel Purifoy moving to small forward and not having to defend as much in the post is expected to create for better matchups on both ends.

"I'm loving it because I can guard my position," Purifoy said. "Playing as a four last year, it was so many big kids I would go against, good players."

Spencer was one of the standout performers during the first week of preseason practice, which was particularly impressive since it was his first game-like action since season-ending shoulder surgery. He said the defensive responsibilities were more intense in practice.

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Starting line up and updates for the 1st exhibition game courtesy of Jason Caldwell of ITAT.

5-10 sophomore point guard Jared Harper
6-5 sophomore guard Mustapha Heron
6-6 junior guard/forward Malik Dunbar
6-3 junior forward Desean Murray
6-7 sophomore forward Anfernee McLemore

I wouldn't read to much into the lineups. The plan is to use a different group in each game.


Auburn leads Stella Azzurra 15-4 with 3:46 in first quarter. Five different players have scored already. Murray with 4 and Chuma Okeke with 3.



Auburn up 27-8 after the first quarter. Tigers are rotating groups of five so far. Dunbar with 7 points, Murray with 6 points and 3 offensive rebounds

Auburn is up 47-8 at halftime and didn't allow a point in the second quarter.

Kansas beat this opponent 90-56

Kansas beat this team 90-56 on August 2... LINK

Auburn takes down Stella Azzurra, 87-29.


Final 4, here we come.

I will not overreact. I will not.

Couple of highlights here
LINK

We connected on an alley oop


I like Harper putting in the work on the glass and with the assists. His points will come, no doubt there, but good seeing him distribute. With his quickness, he can get a lot of guys open looks.

Looks like Malik Dunbar will play a big role

Great, looks like Mizzou is getting Jontay Porter #10 player in '18 class is to reclassify into the 2017 class to be eligible this year.

Mizzou is going to have a huge influx of talent

Opponent BC Silute

- Lithuanian Pro Team - 2nd Tier League
- Finished 11th in 2016
- 2016 Lost 97-80 to KState lost 92-78 to Mizzou
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Player notes

Bryce Brown - 20pts 6/10 3FG
McLemore- 16pts 5 reb
Purifoy- 14pts 7 reb
Okeke - 13pts 11 reb 2steals
Harper - 10pts 10 reb

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“I thought the intensity was good,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. “I thought the travel got to us a little bit more. All of the touring and being up on our feet a little bit, I didn’t feel like we had our legs like we did the first night. This was a much better team, Lithuania.”

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He's had some good highlights from both games.



ETA: I think Dunbar may be wearing his number