re: #tAuburnBasketball Thread

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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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