Bruce Pearl analyzes where Auburn's defense currently stands

Auburn is off to a nice 8-2 start to the 2023-24 hoops season following a somewhat disappointing 2023 campaign, and the improvement may be a credit to this team’s defense.

The current group is off to a terrific start on that end of the floor, where Bruce Pearl’s teams have typically thrived. With starting center and excellent rim protector Johni Broome back for another year, along with veteran reserve and fellow elite shot blocker Dylan Cardwell, the Auburn defense had a high ceiling, but strong play from the perimeter guys has turned the unit into one of the nation’s best. Per KenPom, it’s the 18th-best so far.

When asked to speak on his team’s great start to the year on that side of the floor, Pearl began by crediting his guards for holding up against drives… for the most part. Obviously, the Tiger head coach still sees some plays that could be defended a little tighter.

“Well, I think the fact that the our guards have worked hard and try not allow blow-by’s. At the same time, Boogie (Ellis) blew by them a couple times, Isaiah (Collier) blew by them a couple times, and so we still have got to work on that, get lined up.”

Those USC guards, Ellis and Collier, came into the year hailed as one of — if not the — top backcourt duo in the nation, so it’s understandable they would beat Auburn off the bounce a couple of times. However, the challenge of scoring the ball was only getting started once they penetrated the lane, per Pearl.

“But when they got to the rim, you got Johni (Broome) or Dylan (Cardwell) or Jaylin Williams or Chaney (Johnson), Chris Moore, Chad Baker-Mazara. We got size and length to protect the rim. And so, if our guards could continue to just get better walling up when they get beat.”

With the length, depth and athleticism of this Auburn team, and anchored by two great rim protectors, the guards don’t even have to be excellent on the perimeter, just stiff enough to force them towards those shot blockers. Plus, don’t count out Broome and Cardwell from switching out to the three-point line to guard guards if they need to.

“And then, the other thing, too, is that our bigs can step out on the perimeter and they can guard. Our big guys can get out there and do it.”

At the end of the day, with his personnel, Bruce Pearl knows that the only obstacle in front of a strong defensive performance for his group is effort.

“The key is to just not take possessions off to get offense from your defense and to play hard every night.”

Do that, and opposing competition will have a hellish time trying to score against this Auburn team.