The Auburn Wire is helping us preview Sunday’s big game between the Tigers and the USC Trojans. USC badly needs a quality nonconference win in order to boost its NCAA Tournament hopes.
We talked to Auburn Wire editor Taylor Jones:
Trojans Wire: Watching Auburn basketball over the years, it seems the Tigers fall in love with the 3-point shot and don’t attack the paint nearly as much as they should. What does Bruce Pearl say when asked about his offense’s bad habits, and is there any indication this season’s team might be able to break free from that pattern?
Taylor Jones, Auburn Wire: Patience has been hard to come by with several of Pearl’s teams, including this one. He has stated multiple times this season that he relies heavily on the defense while the offense figures it out. After a strong showing in Israel this summer, production from freshman Chance Westry has not been what he hoped it would be. With SEC play beginning on Dec. 28, Auburn hopes to work out of its offensive woes while on the West Coast.
Trojans Wire: How has the team adjusted to the loss of Jabari Smith? Which players most centrally need to replace both his production and the specific things he did on the court to return this team to SEC championship-level quality and performance?
Taylor Jones: Jaylin Williams has quietly become a solid player, taking over Smith’s position. On several occasions this season, he has been the most consistent player. Last Wednesday against Georgia State, he shot 100% from the field in the first half, and ended the game with 20 points and eight rebounds. Williams has kept Auburn in many games this season, and will continue to do so.
The answer for Auburn’s other first rounder, Walker Kessler, has been Morehead State transfer Johni Broome. At 6’10, Broome has been a defensive machine, especially when it comes to blocks.
Trojans Wire: Auburn seems to be a feast-or-famine team at both ends of the floor: When everyone is making shots and the defense is forcing turnovers, Auburn can’t lose … but when the Tigers miss 3-pointers and the defense doesn’t force turnovers, AU is extremely vulnerable. How can this team guard against the games (such as the Miami game in last season’s NCAA Tournament) when this team doesn’t get off to a good start? How can it shore up its weaknesses?
Taylor Jones: We have seen only one game this year where both aspects were not up to code, and that was last Saturday against Memphis at State Farm Arena in…
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