#25 Washington @ #11 Auburn Tigers
Game Time: 6:30
TV: SEC Network
Line: UW +8.5
Head Coach: Bruce Pearl 5th year 71-62
Overall 533-207
Last year: 26-8 13-5 SEC
Bruce Pearl’s Tigers got off to a roaring start last year at 16-1. That put them in the conversation for one of the top NCAA Tournament seeds but they faltered down the stretch. Despite cooling off, the Tigers finished tied for 1st in the SEC, made the tournament as a four seed, and made the second round where they were ran off the floor by the Clemson Tigers.
A lot of contributors from last year’s team are back, so it’s no surprise the preseason polls ranked them 11th. There are no impact freshman for Auburn; they didn’t play any freshman for more than four minutes in their blowout opener. This team leans on its athleticism and experience much like the Huskies.
The season opening 101-58 win vs South Alabama can give us some insight on what to expect. The starting five scored 77 points. Meanwhile, if you take out Malik Dunbar’s 16 points, the bench only scored 8 points. The Tigers lean on their starters for scoring and minutes, three players got off the bench for more than 15 minutes in a lopsided victory. The Tigers play a very up-tempo style and like to spread the court while also pressuring on defense to create transition opportunities.
A quick look at the box score and Chuma Okeke jumps out at you. The 6’8 forward filled all the boxes with 20 points 9 rebounds 5 assists 3 blocks 3 steals on a tidy 7-11 shooting, including 3-5 from behind the arc. It will be a fascinating matchup watching Okeke and Thybulle trying to stuff the stat sheet for their respective teams.
It will be important to watch if Austin Willey returns to the court against Washington. Willey is the big man down low for the Tigers at 6’11. He has been out with a left ankle injury but Coach Pearl suggested he might be back for Friday’s contest. Without Willey, the Huskies would actually be the team with the height advantage.
With Willey, it could be a long night for the Huskies big men again. They got into foul trouble early against Western Kentucky and Willey is more physical. He tested out the NBA Draft waters in the spring after sitting out last year as part of the FBI Investigation but is back and eligible this season.
Season
W 101-58 vs South Alabama
Projected Starting Lineup
G Jared Harper 5’11 JR
G Bryce Brown 6’3 SR
G Samir Doughty 6’4 JR *Transfer from VCU
F Chuma Okeke 6’8 SO
F Anfernee McLemore 6’7 JR
Outlook
This week gets tougher for the Huskies as they travel into the heart of SEC country for a Friday night fight against the #11 Auburn Tigers. The Dawgs were able to overcome poor perimeter shooting and foul trouble in the opener, but they won’t have their fans behind them this time. Western Kentucky closed the first half with a 20-2 run and the Huskies showed their toughness and determination erasing a 9 point deficit minutes into the second half before pulling away with a suffocating defensive effort, allowing 19 points the second half.
Giving up a run like that on the road to a talented team would spell disaster for the Dawgs, so they need to keep Noah Dickerson on the court and can’t fall in love with the perimeter shots if they aren’t falling. Auburn likes to get up and down the court so the Dawgs will need to get back and set up the zone so the game can be played at their tempo.
Last year, Coach Hopkins took his 2-3 zone defense into hostile territory and beat the Kansas Jayhawks; it will take an equal concentrated team effort on the defensive side of the ball to beat Auburn.
Prediction
Early road test against an athletic and mature team proves too much for a Husky team that still has room to grow. Lessons will be learned from this game that will pay off come conference play.
UW 62 Auburn 75
