Auburn Basketball: A Late-Game Puzzle
Auburn basketball fans finally had something to cheer about as the Tigers snapped a five-game losing streak against Kentucky with a nail-biting 75-74 victory. Yet, a familiar issue lingered: their struggles in the final four minutes.
Despite the win, Auburn was outscored by Kentucky in the closing moments, a recurring theme that has haunted them throughout their recent skid. The Tigers have often let opponents hang around, unable to close games effectively.
Head coach Steven Pearl addressed this challenge, noting, "It's been defensive lapses late. We did well in the first 12 minutes with defensive stops, but in the last four minutes, we struggled."
This victory was crucial for Auburn's NCAA Tournament hopes, but they need to tighten up in the final stretch of their remaining regular-season games, starting with a matchup against Oklahoma.
Auburn's Late-Game Challenges
Auburn's late-game woes have been significant. In their losing streak, they were consistently outscored in the final minutes, except once against Tennessee. During this stretch, they averaged just 10.7 points compared to their opponents' 13.3.
Here's a breakdown of Auburn's final four minutes in their last six games:
- Win vs. Kentucky: Outscored, 14-11
- Loss at Mississippi State: Outscored, 18-8
- Loss at Arkansas: Outscored, 10-8
- Loss vs. Vanderbilt: Outscored, 16-14
- Loss vs. Alabama: Outscored, 16-13
- Loss at Tennessee: Outscored opponents, 10-6
As Auburn gears up to face three teams below them in the SEC standings, followed by a rematch with Alabama, improving their late-game performance is crucial.
Opportunities Ahead
Auburn's upcoming opponents haven't been stellar in closing out games either. They went a combined 1-3 in their last outings, but managed to outscore opponents 39-35 in the final four minutes.
Oklahoma presents an intriguing challenge. Similar to Auburn, they've struggled late, being outscored 68-42 in the final four minutes this month. Notably, even in victories, such as their one-point win over Vanderbilt, they allowed significant late-game rallies.
For Auburn, the path to postseason success is clear: lock down defensively and execute better in those crucial final minutes. The Tigers have the talent; now it's about finding the finishing touch.