How will Auburn basketball respond if Denver Jones is out vs Alabama?
The Aggies shot 43% from the floor as the Tigers defense had no identity. Tahaad Pettiford got his first career start but didn’t present the same defensive prowess that Jones brought to the floor for the Tigers this season.
“He did alright; he did fine. There was a lot on him,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said postgame. “Chad Baker-Mazara did really well at the backup point guard position.”
“We obviously miss Denver Jones as our most physical defender,” Pearl added. “Texas A&M was able to get by our guards a little bit, our frontcourt had to come over and help. The backside rebounding was open, and that’s how Texas A&M plays.”
Texas A&M took full advantage outrebounding Auburn 40-25. The Aggies finished with 15 more field goal attempts due to 24 offensive rebounds and 29 second chance points.
The Aggies also had five players finish with double-digit point totals, led by Zhuric Phelps 19 points.
“It’s how Texas A&M plays, but when you get 16 defensive rebounds, and they get 24 offensive rebounds, that’s going to be a deal-breaker,” Pearl said. “Every team is going to look at that and say hey, the way to beat Auburn is to just be physical with them. We just didn’t step up.”
Heading into its season finale against Alabama, the Tigers gameplan will have to change if Jones is still not cleared to play.
Alabama only shot 19% from beyond the arc as Mark Sears was held to just two made 3-pointers in last month’s matchup against Auburn. Jones contributed 16 points and was the Tigers second-leading scorer behind Johni Broome.
The Auburn big finished with under 10 points for the second-straight game Tuesday night. Broome and Dylan Cardwell combined for just 16 total points and 10 rebounds.
Despite Broome’s recent scoring slump, he became the first Division I men’s basketball player to reach 2,500 career points and 1,500 rebounds since Houston’s Elvin Hayes.
Pearl said Broome’s nagging shoulder injury is playing a factor in his poor performances.
“You know, it may have affected him. He obviously had a shoulder injury in December. He’s had it banged a few times,” Pearl said postgame. “Obviously, he had it banged tonight. It was bothering him. He tried to play through it.”
While dealing with his shoulder and ankle injuries, Broome scored 19 points and 14 rebounds in the first victory over Alabama this year.
The Tigers will need that version of their leading scorer this weekend, especially without Jones in the starting lineup.
Not to mention, if Broome wants to ensure his place as the National Player of the Year, he has to show up Saturday.
“I think the biggest way for Broome to be National Player of the Year is for his team keep continuing to win. And he impacts our winning with everything that he does,” Pearl said.