Bruce Pearl says the guards for No. 8 Auburn need to shoot less after the team’s second straight loss.
One of this team’s strengths has been its point guard play throughout No. 8 Auburn’s 11-game winning streak, which began on December 3 with a loss to Appalachian State and ended on Wednesday with a loss to Alabama. Aden Holloway and Tre Donaldson, who essentially split responsibilities at point guard, came together to form one of the most effective and productive combos in the country.
However, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl’s reaction to his team’s 64-58 loss to Mississippi State had changed from praise to annoyance. With a 0-2 record after two games on the road, Auburn suffered its second straight defeat. As of right now, Auburn is 16-4 overall and 5-2 in the SEC.
Pearl’s message changed following the death. In the past, he had told players to keep shooting because he thought they would eventually make the crucial shot.
Following Auburn’s defeat by Alabama, Pearl remarked of point guard Aden Holloway, “You gotta trust him.” “Be aware that he will attempt a shot.”
He said his players needed to be more deliberate and, for some, perhaps not shoot the ball at all following the defeat to Mississippi State.
Pearl remarked, “We still have trouble shooting it on the road.” “Unfortunately, we keep taking some of the same shots that we’ll eventually have to make or force some guys to put it away. Because launching and missing like we’re on the road is detrimental to our offensive productivity.
Pearl has stated in past road games that Auburn’s dismal shooting performances might improve with time, understanding that Auburn was only a few missed opportunities converted into baskets away from capturing an increasingly rare victory away from home.
However, after five actual road games, poor shooting has started to become more common. Auburn lost two opportunities to win on the road in the Quad-1 this week as a result. Auburn has yet to secure a victory in the Quad-1 this season.
Auburn has shot a total of 73-189 in its three actual road games lost. That amounts to 38%. The lowest shooting percentage Auburn had in any of the three losses came from the field in the defeat to Mississippi State (34%).
If you only count 3-pointers, the numbers get worse. Auburn’s three road losses put them at 14-76.
That amounts to 18%.
In their combined 7-25 shooting performance this week against Alabama and Mississippi State, Holloway and Donaldson struggled. This week, K.D. Johnson made six attempts from beyond the arc. None of them were made by him. After going 1-5 against Alabama, Denver Jones bounced back on Saturday, shooting 2-3 from beyond the arc. This week, blend guard/forward Chad Baker-Mazara went 4-14 and went 1-5 from 3-point range. Against Mississippi State, Jaylin Williams, a forward who was arguably Auburn’s best player during the 11-game winning streak, shot 3-11, missing two layup attempts and 0-4 three-pointers.
When questioned about the guard play on the team, Pearl responded, “Yeah, more selective for some, put it away for others.”
With shooting numbers like that, winning is difficult, if not impossible, when playing on the road.
After five road games, Auburn’s record is now 2-3. It won when it received 80 points or higher. It lost when it failed to meet that benchmark.
Based on his postgame remarks, Pearl now intends to work on curbing poor decision-making, which is partly to blame for the losses’ common denominator: poor shooting.
In college basketball, there aren’t many things more difficult than triumphing away from home. This week, Auburn was defeated by a combined score of 10 points by Alabama and Mississippi State.
That’s made more difficult by giving up shooting opportunities of its own. Pearl will therefore try to assist Auburn in becoming more effective and selective.
In his post-game radio interview, Pearl stated, “I’ve got some guys that just are struggling to shoot the ball, and they need to stop.” “If they are unable to make it, they simply must cease shooting. The ball will move as a result, and you may be able to get him more than seven shots. However, we are unable to do so because the ball is simply being thrown up there.
