Allen Flanigan reveals cause of Auburn's second half offensive issues

Auburn fell short of an NCAA Tournament run with a 81-64 loss to Houston in the Round of 32. Allen Flanigan talked about his team’s second half issues in the loss to the Cougars.

The Tigers had a 10 point lead at halftime but were outscored 50-23 in the final 20 minutes, a stark contrast to the first half. Flanigan and his teammates were shut down and could not pull off the upset.

He chalked it up to defensive issues for Auburn.

“Second half we missed box outs,” Flanigan said. “They got offensive rebounds, second chance points, and they lined us up and drove us and got some mid-range shots. They (wer) able to knock down their mid-range shots.”

In 32 minutes, Flanigan had 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Johni Broome and Jaylin Wiliams led Auburn in scoring with 14 points each.

Williams and Flanigan can return next year due to the COVID-19 waiver. But both players have yet to make a decision if they want to come back and make another run.

“I haven’t really thought much about it you, know,” Williams said. “I’m locked into what’s now — what was now. So now I will think more about it, and talk with my mom and my family, and talk with B.P., and see what’s best for me and what’s going to work out. Never really thought much about it.”

Flanigan echoed that statement.

“Same. We was focused, locked-in on the season,” Flanigan said. “Wasn’t thinking about what’s next for us. We was locked in on the season trying to expand the season and keep going and keep playing with this team. Now that this has come to an end, sit down and talk to coach, and talk to my family and make a decision.”

Allen Flanigan, Bruce Pearl honest about Auburn’s second half issues

In the end, as Flanigan alluded to, the second half was a different story for Auburn.

“I wish it was a 20-minute game instead of a 40-minute game,” head coach Bruce Pearl said. “You know, we were ready to play. The kids were ready to play. Steven Pearl had the game plan, did a great job with our defensive game plan. And we got great looks in the first half. Ran whatever we wanted. And played great basketball. In the second half, I don’t think our guys were — we were as prepared for how aggressive they would be. I’m sure that Kelvin jumped all over them at halftime and just lit them up. And they came out and they guarded us much harder, much better. And then we — we didn’t respond to it. 

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“In other words, we probably anticipated that’s how they got us in the first half and then deal with it. It actually worked to our disadvantage because that’s how we expected them to play from the beginning. And when it was so easy in the first half, I think there was a chance we thought that’s how it was going to be for the rest of the game, because we were dominated in the second half on both ends of the floor.”