Bruce Pearl shares keys to Auburn's defensive success

Bruce Pearl loved what he saw from Auburn defensively in their victory over LSU on Wednesday.

The Tigers held their opponent to 49 points during the game, an impressive defensive showing against a solid, up and coming squad. Afterwards, Pearl shared the key to Auburn’s defensive success in the contest.

“Defensively, we had seen Florida guard LSU in here a week or two ago. Late, mid-clock, they were switching. We switch really, really early. KJ Williams is so good out there on the perimeter. We didn’t want to give him any free ones,” explained Peral. “Our big guys — Dylan Cardwell and Johni Broome can move their feet and guard guards. That switching defense really, really bothered a lot of what LSU did.

“I mean, to hold them down to 49 points, and on 29% shooting, that’s pretty spectacular.”

Alas, Auburn’s defense is a huge proponent of what’s allowed them to go on the nice run they’re currently on, capturing victories in six of their last seven games.

Next up for Bruce Pearl and company is a date with South Carolina. If Auburn can keep rolling against the Gamecocks, they’ll continue to raise their stock, and their ranking in the poll.

Bruce Pearl assesses how good Auburn can be when everything comes together

Continuing, Bruce Pearl believes his team is right where they need to be.

During a press conference earlier this week, Pearl answered a question about how dangerous Auburn can be when clicking on all cylinders. He says the consistency of his group makes all the difference and, so far, it shows in their record.

“What I talk to the guys about now…I just complimented them on the position they put themselves in. They’ve put themselves in a great position at 14-3. Can we take advantage of it by continuing to have guys step up and improve?,” said Pearl. “Johni Broome has been our most consistent player. He has been unbelievably consistent. (He) just didn’t have a big night tonight and, yet, we’re still able to win.”

“This team should feel really good about that,” Pearl said.

After opening at 8-0, Auburn did fight through a bit of a lull. The Tigers went just 1-2 over a three-game stretch that featured Memphis, Georgia State, and USC. They’ve bounced back from that, though, with six wins in seven games with them all coming against SEC competition besides their victory at Washington.

Broome, the transfer from Morehead State, has held down the paint with averages of 12.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in his first year at Auburn. Still, the roster keeps going beyond his strong play. Wendell Green, Jaylin Williams, Allen Flanigan, and several other pieces for the Tigers are having strong years that, as a whole, give them some of the best depth in the SEC.

Auburn has still proven to be one of the nation’s top teams after losing a ton of last year’s production. If things continue to work at the rate they are down on The Plains, Pearl should have another contender, both in the conference and nationally, by season’s end.

On3’s Sam Gillenwater contributed to this article.