Basketball Prediction Thread sponsored by Ely's - State vs Auburn
- Thread starter dawgstudent
- Start date
State 71 Auburn 64.
This one could bite us. Everytime I have watched Auburn, they have played the better SEC teams close. I know they are 0-4 but I don't think they are as bad as their record.
This one could bite us. Everytime I have watched Auburn, they have played the better SEC teams close. I know they are 0-4 but I don't think they are as bad as their record.
I am not going to make a pick because this one scares me to death, but here are a few keys in my estimation.
1. We can't let Denson and Harrell both go off. Together they get about 40 ppg. We can withstand one of them getting his 20-25, but we need to hold the other one in check. Denson is more the drive and score type player, lots of layups and floaters. Harrell is the better shooter from distance. Tahj is a decent shooter, but KT is really the only consistent threat from deep. If it's tight late, you want to make Denson beat you in my opinion because if you foul him, he struggles on the line.
2. Here's a stat for you. Denson and KT have taken 58% of the shots for Auburn in four SEC games. By comparison, we have incredible balance, with five guys having taken between 33-38 shots in four SEC games. I don't know offhand another team that depends so heavily on two guys, and two guards at that, to take so many shots.
3. I don't think Auburn can stop Gavin in the post. Dixon-Tatum is a seven footer with good agility, but he's not strong. He's also foul prone. There's not a lot behind him, as Auburn as already had a mid-year transfer (stop the presses!!) and another post player named Granger who is/is not suspended? Who knows. He didn't play Saturday but was dressed. So in my opinion we need to play inside out on Wednesday, getting the ball to Gavin in the post and let him see what he can do with ADT. Borchert and Roquez could be post options as well but Borchert tends to fall in love with the three ball at times.
4. Tahj is listed at 5-10 which might be generous. He's quick, but Bloodman and Ready can keep up with him. With our length on the wings in Fred and Sword, the 1-3-1 might cause him some problems if we take away his dribble.
5. Since I don't think a third or fourth leading scorer can qualify as a RAT even if they average single digits, I will go with Dion Wade as my RAT.
1. We can't let Denson and Harrell both go off. Together they get about 40 ppg. We can withstand one of them getting his 20-25, but we need to hold the other one in check. Denson is more the drive and score type player, lots of layups and floaters. Harrell is the better shooter from distance. Tahj is a decent shooter, but KT is really the only consistent threat from deep. If it's tight late, you want to make Denson beat you in my opinion because if you foul him, he struggles on the line.
2. Here's a stat for you. Denson and KT have taken 58% of the shots for Auburn in four SEC games. By comparison, we have incredible balance, with five guys having taken between 33-38 shots in four SEC games. I don't know offhand another team that depends so heavily on two guys, and two guards at that, to take so many shots.
3. I don't think Auburn can stop Gavin in the post. Dixon-Tatum is a seven footer with good agility, but he's not strong. He's also foul prone. There's not a lot behind him, as Auburn as already had a mid-year transfer (stop the presses!!) and another post player named Granger who is/is not suspended? Who knows. He didn't play Saturday but was dressed. So in my opinion we need to play inside out on Wednesday, getting the ball to Gavin in the post and let him see what he can do with ADT. Borchert and Roquez could be post options as well but Borchert tends to fall in love with the three ball at times.
4. Tahj is listed at 5-10 which might be generous. He's quick, but Bloodman and Ready can keep up with him. With our length on the wings in Fred and Sword, the 1-3-1 might cause him some problems if we take away his dribble.
5. Since I don't think a third or fourth leading scorer can qualify as a RAT even if they average single digits, I will go with Dion Wade as my RAT.
Auburn has one guy that is leading the SEC in scoring. That always concerns me that a guy like that goes off for 30 against us. We should have a pretty good game plan and some confidence after saturday's win.
MSU 71
Auburn 62
MSU 71
Auburn 62
I think we can handle quickness. 79-66
Nobody in the SEC may be quicker than us, especially our hands.
Nobody in the SEC may be quicker than us, especially our hands.