Just figured I would give you guys the quick look facts and a little bit of analysis on the Tigers before the game this afternoon. Will do the same for Purdue or Utah State for tomorrow...
AUBURN TIGERS
Record: 3-0
Best win: 85-64 over Eastern Kentucky
Scoring defense: 65 PPG allowed (T74th)
Scoring offense: 83.7 PPG (69th)
Rebound margin: +6 RPG (T98th)
Turnovers: 16 TPG (T279th)
Assist/turnover ratio: .92 (217th)
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
Record: 3-0
Best Win: 90-71 over Eastern Kentucky
Scoring defense: 60.3 PPG allowed (35th)
Scoring offense: 84.3 PPG (58th)
Rebound margin: +10 RPG (T37th)
Turnovers: 10.3 TPG (T21st)
Assist/turnover ratio: 1.68 (17th)
QUICK OVERVIEW
Auburn, who went 11-20 a year ago, seems to be a much improved team this season, and mostly because they really upped the talent on the roster and are getting great play from their three leading freshmen: former four star small forward Danjel Purifoy, former four star point guard Jared Harper and former five star guard Mustapha Heron.
Purifoy is a guy that's ready-built with an NBA body at 6-7 230, and he can both shoot the three and drive the line. In fact, he's Auburn's leading scorer because he's so versatile. He's a good defender for a youngster, too. He's the swiss army knife for the Tigers, and he leads them in minutes played, too.
Harper is the point guard. He's a little squirt of a player at only 5-10, but he's a great distributor, has a good jumper, and seems to have really embraced that floor general role. He averages 11 points a game and likes to get some steals, as he has seven so far through three games.
Heron is the first five star player to ever sign with Auburn, and he's likely an NBA guy down the line, too. He's extremely good at getting to the basket and scoring at the rim, plays with great effort and hustle, and he's very strong and plays good defense. Like Purifoy, Auburn really relies on him as a true freshman, as he's the leading rebounder, second leading scorer, and has the third most minutes. Think Shadell Millinghaus, but more talented.
But with freshmen come some issues, primarily among them turnovers. Auburn turns it over way, way too much right now, and they aren't efficient at all with a poor .92 assist/turnover ratio. That hasn't hurt them so far because their youngsters are so talented, but it's going to, especially against a veteran-heavy team like Tech that's super efficient and rarely turns it over.
I think a veteran defender like Zach Smith will be a tough task for the freshman Purifoy to handle in his fourth college game. He hasn't played a forward with similar measurables that's an elite defender yet, and I think that will cause the freshman to have some issues tonight, which will be big for the Red Raiders.
The biggest concern I have, though, is simply playing good defense at the guard spots. Got to play well all night.
Tech is shooting 53 percent, while Auburn is shooting only 44 percent. If you ask me, the inexperience and sloppy play will be the difference and help Tech push past the Tigers for a win tonight. Yes, Auburn is uber talented and going to be really, really good later this year and next year, but right now a veteran group like Tech can eat their lunch.
AUBURN TIGERS
Record: 3-0
Best win: 85-64 over Eastern Kentucky
Scoring defense: 65 PPG allowed (T74th)
Scoring offense: 83.7 PPG (69th)
Rebound margin: +6 RPG (T98th)
Turnovers: 16 TPG (T279th)
Assist/turnover ratio: .92 (217th)
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
Record: 3-0
Best Win: 90-71 over Eastern Kentucky
Scoring defense: 60.3 PPG allowed (35th)
Scoring offense: 84.3 PPG (58th)
Rebound margin: +10 RPG (T37th)
Turnovers: 10.3 TPG (T21st)
Assist/turnover ratio: 1.68 (17th)
QUICK OVERVIEW
Auburn, who went 11-20 a year ago, seems to be a much improved team this season, and mostly because they really upped the talent on the roster and are getting great play from their three leading freshmen: former four star small forward Danjel Purifoy, former four star point guard Jared Harper and former five star guard Mustapha Heron.
Purifoy is a guy that's ready-built with an NBA body at 6-7 230, and he can both shoot the three and drive the line. In fact, he's Auburn's leading scorer because he's so versatile. He's a good defender for a youngster, too. He's the swiss army knife for the Tigers, and he leads them in minutes played, too.
Harper is the point guard. He's a little squirt of a player at only 5-10, but he's a great distributor, has a good jumper, and seems to have really embraced that floor general role. He averages 11 points a game and likes to get some steals, as he has seven so far through three games.
Heron is the first five star player to ever sign with Auburn, and he's likely an NBA guy down the line, too. He's extremely good at getting to the basket and scoring at the rim, plays with great effort and hustle, and he's very strong and plays good defense. Like Purifoy, Auburn really relies on him as a true freshman, as he's the leading rebounder, second leading scorer, and has the third most minutes. Think Shadell Millinghaus, but more talented.
But with freshmen come some issues, primarily among them turnovers. Auburn turns it over way, way too much right now, and they aren't efficient at all with a poor .92 assist/turnover ratio. That hasn't hurt them so far because their youngsters are so talented, but it's going to, especially against a veteran-heavy team like Tech that's super efficient and rarely turns it over.
I think a veteran defender like Zach Smith will be a tough task for the freshman Purifoy to handle in his fourth college game. He hasn't played a forward with similar measurables that's an elite defender yet, and I think that will cause the freshman to have some issues tonight, which will be big for the Red Raiders.
The biggest concern I have, though, is simply playing good defense at the guard spots. Got to play well all night.
Tech is shooting 53 percent, while Auburn is shooting only 44 percent. If you ask me, the inexperience and sloppy play will be the difference and help Tech push past the Tigers for a win tonight. Yes, Auburn is uber talented and going to be really, really good later this year and next year, but right now a veteran group like Tech can eat their lunch.
