The University of Mississippi Athletics
Know the Opponent: Auburn
1/7/2017 | Athletics, Blog
Know the Opponent: Auburn (10-4)
KenPom ranking: 105
Best win: No. 28 Texas Tech
Worst loss: No. 172 Boston College
Both Ole Miss and Auburn are after their first win in conference play. Ole Miss has had arguably the toughest open of any team, drawing Kentucky at home followed by back-to-back road games.รย
Auburn on Offense:รย Auburn plays fast. The Tigers average fewer than 15 seconds per possession, the 14th-fastest pace in the country. However, Auburn is below the national average in both 3-point and 2-point shots. Ole Miss hasn't been good at defending 3s this season, but Auburn hasn't shot them at a high rate. Because of that, Auburn ranks just 164th in offensive efficiency.รย
Auburn does get to the line though. Mustapha Heron ranks 17th in the nation in drawing fouls. Heron runs the show, taking more than 1/4 of the shots when he's on the floor. รย
Auburn on Defense: Auburn's defense is the strength of the team. Teams have not shot the ball well against the Tigers. Auburn also forces teams to turn the ball over at a high rate. That's an issue that has plagued Ole Miss this season. Ole Miss can't let what happened in the first half at Florida in regards to turnovers happen again and have a shot to win.รย
Auburn has been susceptible to offensive rebounds though, and that's an area where Ole Miss can thrive. The Rebels rank 24th in the nation in offensive rebound percentage while Auburn's defense ranks 280th in the same category.รย
