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By Brant Daughtry


Another day, another road victory in the SEC for Auburn basketball. This is ho-hum at this point. The final score of that one won’t reflect how close a game this actually was. While Auburn held LSU at arms length the whole way, and ended up covering the spread at the end, LSU just wouldn’t go away. I think that makes this victory even more impressive though. LSU kept making runs, kept cutting into that lead. But every time LSU got back within five-ish points, Auburn made a run of its own, often forcing turnovers and turning defense to offense to put LSU back down.

I think the turnovers are the story of the game. Auburn’s defense was spectacular, forcing 20 turnovers in this game, the most all season. LSU has had some turnover problems this season, and Auburn very clearly knew to take advantage of that. While Auburn couldn’t turn all of those turnovers into productive possessions, it was still a great defensive effort, even if the good guy Tigers weren’t finishing particularly well.

That lack of finishing has been a theme the last few weeks. Since the Georgia game, Auburn’s shots at the rim just haven’t been falling at a consistent rate. Auburn won in spite of that, thanks largely to the great defense they’ve displayed in those matchups, but it needs to change, and soon. Saturday brings another road test against a great team.


Ole Miss is coached by Chris Beard, formerly of Texas. Beard is a darn good basketball coach, regardless of your thoughts on him as a person. He’s gotten Ole Miss into the top 25 in his second year and firmly in the field for the NCAA Tournament. Like the rest of the SEC, Ole Miss has gotten serious about basketball and Beard is a major part of that turnaround. On Wednesday, he took on his former school and escaped with a three point win at home.They’re firmly in the middle of the pack in the standings at 5-3 in SEC play. They’re about to fall out of major contention if Auburn gets the job done Saturday, so they’ll be motivated.

The thing that stands out about Ole Miss is their age. This is a really old college basketball team, and that shows up in their strengths. They simply don’t turn the ball over. They’re an experienced group that values every possession, and more often than not, they’re at least getting a shot off. They also do a great job of turning opponents over. They’re undersized, so their defense is built around creating havoc and causing turnovers. I think that lack of size could be an issue for them though. Auburn will have the height advantage in every individual matchup on the court, and the guards working inside may be the way to go in this game.

Players to Watch For: 

Guard Sean Medulla, #3- Pedulla is the only Rebel who averages over 30 minutes, and with good reason. He’s averaging 14 points per game and is an excellent shooter, sitting at about 38% from deep, and he’s an excellent assist man as well. On the defensive end, he’s got more steals than turnovers in conference play, so that tells you all you need to know. He’s the best player on this Ole Miss team by far.

Forward Malik Dia, #0- Dia is the best player down low for Ole Miss. He’s a little small for the position, but he makes up for it with effort and athleticism. He grabs about seven rebounds a game and has a solid number of blocks as well. He likes to get physical with his opponents and it’s gotten him in foul trouble before. In a road venue though, you never know.


Another road test that Auburn should be happy with if they come out with a win. Ole Miss is a really good team. They’d be in the top three or four of most conferences, and they have a really good coach. The good news is, if Auburn wins this game, they guarantee a winning record in road games. That’s bonkers, especially with the league as it is now. This is a special, special season.

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