3 Takeaways From Auburn Men's Basketball Annihilation Of Vermont
AUBURN, AL - Auburn annihilates a Vermont team that has made three straight tournament appearances.
In a press conference before this game, Bruce Pearl warned that Vermont was a "Yale-like" team in Auburn's home opener, and he wasn't wrong with that statement. Vermont has been the dominant power in the American East, winning three straight conference regular season and conference tournament championships.
Auburn From Beyond The Arc
Three is more than two, and Auburn's offensive performance reflected that on Wednesday night.
The Tigers had an impressive night, shooting 46% from beyond the arc (16 for 35). Significant contributions came from all across the roster, specifically Georgia Tech transfer Miles Kelly. Kelly scored 21 points in his debut for the Tigers, shooting 7/11 from the field and 7/9 from a three-point range.
We anticipated that Kelly would be an excellent shooter, as his career average from three-point range was 35% in his three-year tenure with the Yellow Jackets. However, few expected him to achieve an outstanding 77% shooting clip, going five for five from three in the second half.
High-Intensity Defense
High-intensity teams have been a hallmark of Bruce Pearl's tenure at Auburn, as evident in their game against Vermont. All games used heavy on-ball pressure and full-court pressing, forcing Vermont to call timeouts on the inbounds.
The Tigers' defense forced 16 turnovers, leading to 25 points. This impressive performance came against a team that ranked ninth last season in turnovers per game, allowing 9.2 per game.
It's never wrong to cause a tournament-caliber team to give up the ball 16 times and hold them to 43 points. If the Tiger's defense can stay this locked in all season, they will be a nightmare to prepare for.
Staying Focused
While the Tigers' 51-point victory over Vermont is impressive, they must not let that win distract them from their upcoming schedule.
Starting as soon as Saturday, Auburn travels to the Toyota Center to face a savvy and veteran Houston team that is ranked #4 in the AP Poll and #1 according to KenPom. Beating Vermont proved that this Auburn team was going to be a factor come conference play, but Saturday could prove whether they will be a factor in the national title race.
Read More College Sports News From Stadium Rant Here: College Sports News
MORE FROM STADIUM RANT:
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!