AUDynasty

Maybe, but there's no denying that Gonzaga is playing like a top team should. They've blitzed their opponents. We've had slow starts in either first or second halves too often, and this finally bit us at the end. That's not how a top team should play. They should be able to come out focused and dictate the play. We've been too submissive and passive to a fault sometimes. We got to stop playing reactive basketball.

See, here's what I'm thinking with how we're approaching these games lately. We're 5-4 in our last nine games. We've gone back to Earth after our 22-1 start. We're 9 out of 36 today beyond the arc. Past few games (except one or two) we've been shooting below average from the 3 line in what you'd like for a contender. I think Pearl is trying to make a point that we have to have the ball inside or at least from top of the key in order to generate scoring. Take 3s only when they're open, and that's it. KD went for 0-14 today. They'll have extra rest and these times spent MUST be all about nailing down roles and recognizing situational basketball (such as making sure to drive or going for an extra pass if you've missed last three shots). This team knows they'll be making an early exit if they continue to play this style of basketball, and I expect them to make adjustments... if not, then don't be surprised if we go home in the first weekend. I still think we got a shot, but a lot of things will need to go right if we want to make a deep run.

As much as I hate to admit it, I think this is the truth. College basketball teams this year aren't elite. Only a handful are "very good" such as Gonzaga, Arizona, and maybe Kentucky and the rest are "good" and that includes Auburn. It's as @Dual-Threat Rigbyonce said -- teams have scouted us to the T after our initial start (22-1), and they've laid a blueprint on how to stop us. We've been winning some close games but a lucky bounce or not we could very well lose to games like Missouri, Georgia, and Miss State. This is who we are. We'll just have to make do with what we have and hope for the best.

We did this to ourselves. The real question is if this half will help us grow and build resiliency for the NCAA tournament. Down by 20 at 10-minute mark and gave ourselves a chance to swoop in at the end. Hate to say it, but unless KD and Green catch fire we're in for a struggle in some games (assuming we do win).

One thing that isn’t surprising and will probably prove to be really problematic if we don’t change our approach: KD and Green are combined 1-16 in the first half. Like it or not but our postseason success will depend on them as they will not stop taking shots.

Embarrassing, but we just need to get a stop and make smart shots and we’ll be alright

Amazing run this year!! Yet another ring and we complete this season undefeated at home. Are we the toughest place to play yet? We gotta figure out our second half struggles and do it fast. War Eagle!!

Honestly, this is who we are. Offensively as a team we’re not a great long range shooting squad. We may get hot here and there, but this is what we’ll get. We’re prone to slow starts. This is just who we are. As long as we continue to emphasize defensively, we’ll be alright. i think this is a perfect example how we need to run our offense through Jabari. I think we’ll be alright come postseason.

IMO, KD took 22 attempts because he wanted to show Georgia what they were missing in him before he transferred. He got too amped up, and that almost cost us the game.

How does KD and Green combine for 39(!!!!) shots when you have the NBA number one pick on the team with seven shots? Kessler also was effective and he didn’t get enough touches. Awful win, hope we can learn from this.

100% right, this is something we should plan. Alabama didn’t have a good interior defensive presence and we put up 52 in the paint, the most alabama has ever allowed all year.

Lost in all of this is that we scored two points in the first five minutes of the second half and still put up 47 in the last 15 minutes. We’ve been gotten so resilient that I actually do not worry if teams go on a run against because it feels like we’ll just come back with one of our own. War Eagle!

Can anyone explain what they’re saying? Cannot hear

This was a historic game by even our standards. Auburn shot 30% and still won. That’s the first time in a decade that happened. Imagine that. This was like 1 in 300 chance of happening and we still pulled out with a win. Plus, this will only help Auburn learn how to handle adversity in situations like these. Our offense was Antarctica cold and our defense pulled through to have just enough stops to secure the win.

Number one in the country.

Sounds like someone who doesn’t know jack about what we’ve done thus so far this season. 🤷🏻‍♂️

This is a completely absurd poll. A team has a whopping 11 first place votes over another and we’re behind them? And what’s more is that Newell put us at 9. This same voter also placed alabama at 18. Last week Newell put us at 8 and alabama at 17, and we suddenly dropped a spot after beating alabama. This is flat out ridiculous. We’re the only team in the nation that has not lost in regulation. If they want go by head to head, we have a common opponent in alabama and we won at alabama while gonzaga lost to alabama at a neutral court. It gets more maddening the more you think about it.

For a meaningless bowl game I’m surprised some people are outraged and irate at the outcome. Mason is showing why he’s the guy to lead our defense, and he’s going to deliver a masterpiece. The playcalling was great. If the execution was average, we win by two or three scores. @Brad_ATXis correct when he said the offense is this bad. Plays were creative, but we can do squat when we can’t block, protect, pass, or make timely catches. It is what it is. I still like the direction of this program with the recruiting class coming in. Gotta give Austin Davis a chance and hope we can get gems from the transfer portal and we’re set to compete in 2022.

No, two scholarships for the 4-year span.

All of that and we still lost by one score. And these decisions felt they can be changed and managed. Will we adjust? That remains yet to be seen, but I’m feeling cautiously optimistic. I get what you’re saying, though. An OC like Bobo with his pedigree should know better, I agree.

It always sucks to lose but honestly I enjoyed the effort and grit. I really felt we had a chance all the game. And that’s something I won’t take for granted after experiencing Gus’s years. There’s a lot to work and improve on but going to a whiteout game against #10 team in nation with a first year coach plus installing his own brand around here? I’m sleeping good tonight.

One thing I haven’t seen addressed here: I was really impressed that we hung 60 on them and allowed just 10 knowing there were no turnovers the entire game. It was as fair and square turnover-wise and we still whacked them. If we can produce turnovers, we’ll be one awesome team this year!

Exactly!! Thank you! 100% with you here. Sick of occasional misogyny on here.

A question for @ellitor--how do you determine which recruits to move in the Rivals Recruiting forum and recruits that already have committed but to remain in Auburn recruiting forum? Is it more about our chances of flipping him? If that's the case then I'll see the committed recruits with a gleamer of hope.

you're spot on. just that I think he's the next coming of Jimmer Fredette, and we all knew how that turned out to be.