NCAAB · 9 months ago

NCAA Tournament: 5 Things We Learned About the Auburn Tigers

Grant White

Host · Writer

Johni Broome Needs to Be Better
If Auburn hopes to claim this year's National Championship, it needs the best player in college basketball to be its best player.

Through the first two games of the tournament, Johni Broome was held in check. The senior scored 14 points against the lowly Alabama State Hornets and eight points against the Bluejays. The most glaring stat is that Broome is shooting just 40.1% from the field, a significant departure from his 50.9% mark throughout the season.

Broome remains a force on the glass but can't go quiet in the Sweet Sixteen. The Tigers are in tough versus the Michigan Wolverines, who can hang with the best of them at both ends of the court. This is Broome's time to shine. Unlike the first two rounds, he can't afford to go missing.

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Auburn Can Play Defense
Much to the public's dismay, the Auburn Tigers were installed as the top team entering March Madness. The biggest knock on the Tigers was the absence of defensive integrity down the stretch. But as we've seen through the opening two games, Auburn can turn on its defensive prowess when needed.

The Tigers aren't as bad as they showed over the final few weeks of the regular season. Auburn lost three of four, including the SEC Tournament semifinal, casting doubt on their readiness for this year's tourney. They responded to the criticism with two convincing wins. As expected, they held Alabama State to 63 points on 37.1% shooting. Following that up by limiting the Creighton Bluejays to a 47.2% field goal percentage and 70 points.

According to KenPom, the Tigers rank 12th in the country in defensive efficiency. They'll need to capitalize on that strength in the final stages of the big dance.

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Auburn Still Can't Cover
As good as they've looked at both ends of the court, the Auburn Tigers are dismal regarding covering the spread.

While their 19-16 ATS record isn't terrible, it pales compared to their 30-5 record. More concerningly, the Tigers' perceived betting value is significantly higher than their on-court performance. Auburn's win over Creighton was the first ATS win since March 1. Further, the Tigers needed to go on a 10-5 run to close out the game to facilitate that outcome.

Finding a way to win is crucial for tournament longevity, but not a secure way of cashing betting tickets.
The Tigers are Cleaning Up the Glass
We may as well start calling the Auburn Tigers the window washers the way they're cleaning the glass.

They showed above-average proficiency on the offensive glass throughout the regular season. But nothing like we've seen early in March Madness. Auburn has reached double-digit offensive rebounds in each of its first two contests, yielding a +15 advantage. Additionally, they've been effective on the defensive boards.

Altogether, the Tigers have a +19 rebound advantage so far this tournament. That strength will serve them well as the intensity gets ratcheted up.
Auburn Needs to Avoid Prolonged Droughts
Auburn's undoing over the latter stages of the campaign has been prolonged scoring droughts. They survived a scare versus Creighton, but they might not be so lucky versus superior competition.

In the first half of Saturday's win, the Tigers recorded five points across a five-minute stretch. They followed that up with only four points throughout a four-and-a-half-minute stretch late in the second half.

No team is immune from scoreless periods, but it seems to plague the Tigers more often than it should. Auburn needs its role players to step up when its starters are off the court or run cold. A characteristic that's been lacking from their more recent performances.
Johni Broome Needs to Be Better
If Auburn hopes to claim this year's National Championship, it needs the best player in college basketball to be its best player.

Through the first two games of the tournament, Johni Broome was held in check. The senior scored 14 points against the lowly Alabama State Hornets and eight points against the Bluejays. The most glaring stat is that Broome is shooting just 40.1% from the field, a significant departure from his 50.9% mark throughout the season.

Broome remains a force on the glass but can't go quiet in the Sweet Sixteen. The Tigers are in tough versus the Michigan Wolverines, who can hang with the best of them at both ends of the court. This is Broome's time to shine. Unlike the first two rounds, he can't afford to go missing.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Auburn Can Play Defense
Much to the public's dismay, the Auburn Tigers were installed as the top team entering March Madness. The biggest knock on the Tigers was the absence of defensive integrity down the stretch. But as we've seen through the opening two games, Auburn can turn on its defensive prowess when needed.

The Tigers aren't as bad as they showed over the final few weeks of the regular season. Auburn lost three of four, including the SEC Tournament semifinal, casting doubt on their readiness for this year's tourney. They responded to the criticism with two convincing wins. As expected, they held Alabama State to 63 points on 37.1% shooting. Following that up by limiting the Creighton Bluejays to a 47.2% field goal percentage and 70 points.

According to KenPom, the Tigers rank 12th in the country in defensive efficiency. They'll need to capitalize on that strength in the final stages of the big dance.

Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.

NCAA Tournament: 5 Things We Learned About the Auburn Tigers

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