If everything goes as planned, we will play Auburn in Columbia on Tuesday evening to open our SEC schedule. Some, (maybe most) people think that Auburn is the best team in the SEC right now. I watched their game against LSU and I was impressed. Their "scariest" player is the 7-1 center, Kessler, who had a triple-double against LSU (points, rebounds, and blocks). It is his shot blocking that worries me most. It's very hard to score at the rim when he is in the game. And we need to score inside against everyone. They also have a 6-10 freshman who is predicted to be a lottery pick in the NBA draft. He shoots jump shots well from 3 pt range on in. Their guards are small, but quick, and like to drive the ball into the paint. They also swipe at every ball they can. But, I don't think those small guards shoot threes all that well, so we need to back off of them in order to keep them in front of us and take our chances on them hitting threes.
We have them in Columbia, so that should help us. If we can find a way to win this game it would certainly be big for us. I think we have to go at Kessler and try to get him to foul. We can't be intimidated by his shot blocking. Lots of times, a player will block a shot, but foul too, so take it right to him. Keep the Auburrn players in front of us. Don't let them drive to the rim. Make them shoot jumpers over us. Try not to foul. On offense, be agressive and don't be intimidated.
We have them in Columbia, so that should help us. If we can find a way to win this game it would certainly be big for us. I think we have to go at Kessler and try to get him to foul. We can't be intimidated by his shot blocking. Lots of times, a player will block a shot, but foul too, so take it right to him. Keep the Auburrn players in front of us. Don't let them drive to the rim. Make them shoot jumpers over us. Try not to foul. On offense, be agressive and don't be intimidated.
