Why another narrow win for Auburn basketball shows considerable improvement in key area

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AUBURN — If it seems like Auburn basketball keeps playing close games, that’s probably because it is.

On Saturday night, the top-ranked Tigers got a program-record seventh win over a ranked opponent, surviving a 53-51 rock fight against No. 6 Tennessee that came down to the game’s final seconds. It was Auburn’s fourth game this season that was decided by one possession, not including three more games decided by two possessions.

In that circumstance, Auburn is 6-1, with many of those results being recent.

“We’ve won four games now in the last possession — four of the last six,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said Saturday. “Last year, we had 20 wins by double-digits. And, so, whether this team is better or not or whatever we are, this league is better. It’s going to be a battle every night.”

Actually, Auburn (18-1, 6-0 SEC) had 26 victories by 10 or more points last season. The amount of games it won all year? 27. Inversely, the Tigers had just three games were decided by two possessions or fewer a season ago. They didn’t win a single one.

“Last year, as you guys have watched Auburn basketball, we won every game by double digits,” Johni Broome said. “This year, we beat South Carolina at the buzzer when I went down. Texas, close game. Georgia, close game. Here, close game. Houston was a close game. Maui, close games. You just go down the line on how many close games we’ve had. It shows the grit and determination of this team.”

As Pearl said, the SEC is perhaps the best its ever been. Teams like Georgia, South Carolina or Texas — toward the bottom of the league’s standings — are fully capable of handing out defeats. But in the differences between the past two seasons, the Tigers have shown considerable improvement in a vital aspect of any sport: Closing games.

The Tennessee win is a prime example, with Auburn winning despite season-lows in field goal and 3-point percentage. The Volunteers’ ever-stout defense shored up the most efficient offense in college basketball. But the…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-another-narrow-win-auburn-140904430.html

Author : The Montgomery Advertiser

Publish date : 2025-01-26 14:09:00

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