Auburn came out against Alabama looking like a different team from the one that drew concerns after last week’s preseason opener against Florida State. The edge was obvious from the start. The Tigers played with more bite, more force and more urgency Thursday, and for stretches that paid off in a big way.
But that same approach also helped drag them into trouble in Birmingham, where Auburn dropped an 87-85 preseason loss to the Crimson Tide. The Tigers’ aggression showed up everywhere - on the glass, in the passing lanes, in the general tone of the game - and it also fed the chippy, physical feel that kept escalating throughout the night.
One of the first flashpoints came with just under five minutes gone in the first half, when Auburn forward Thomas Dowd and Alabama forward Keitenn Bristow battled for a rebound and the moment turned into a benches-clearing skirmish. That set the tone for a game that featured several small scuffles and plenty of heated energy between the rivals.
The most encouraging sign for Auburn was its work on the boards. The Tigers finished with 51 rebounds, a jump from the 40 they posted against Florida State.
They also made life harder for Alabama in the paint, limiting the Tide to 42 rebounds after Florida State had grabbed 51 against Auburn a week earlier. Alabama was without Marcus Ponder, unlike Florida State, but Auburn still managed to do a better job containing the bigs in front of them, even with the Tide’s front line being among the SEC’s best.
The pressure also showed up in the steals column. Auburn doubled its takeaways from the previous game, going from four steals against Florida State to eight against Alabama. Turnovers, meanwhile, stayed in the same neighborhood, with the Tigers going from 18 against Florida State to 17 against the Tide.
Still, the same physical style that gave Auburn a boost also created headaches. Foul trouble hovered over the Tigers for much of the game, and it became a major issue late. Tahaad Pettiford and Bukky Oboye were both forced to the bench in the closing minutes, while Narcisse Ngoy was limited after picking up four fouls.
Auburn also put Alabama at the line 36 times while being whistled for 29 fouls, which is the kind of number that can undo a lot of good work.
The takeaway is pretty clear: Auburn’s aggression is a real weapon, and it looked like one against Alabama. But if the Tigers want to keep that edge without letting it turn against them, they’ll need to keep it under control as the season moves forward.
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