Is It Too Soon to Panic About Auburn Men’s Basketball?

College basketball is less than two weeks from the start of exhibition games, and after losing their coach, fans might have some more questions about Auburn than before. Auburn’s recent exhibition defeat at the hands of Oklahoma State stirred more than just offseason chatter; it sparked real concern, but before fans leave the ship, it’s worth stepping back and asking: Is this body blow fatal … or just a jolt? This could be the type of defeat that sparks the entire Tigers locker room and gets them back on track. Newly appointed head coach Steve Pearl has faith in his team, but he needs to refine some fundamentals first.

The Scoreboard Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

First, context: exhibition games aren’t designed to crown champions. Coach's experiment. Rotations shift. Plays go wrong more often than they go right. Auburn’s loss is a red flag, but not necessarily a death warrant. Although it was reported that Oklahoma State was without three of its projected starters, it was two transfers who stepped up in key roles. Seton Hall transfer Isaiah Coleman poured in 28 points to lead the way for the Cowboys. Green Bay transfer Anthony Roy also poured in 28 points to co-lead the Cowboys. Massachusetts transfer Jaylen Curry had 23 points as well to add to the scoring. Auburn’s defense looked hesitant. The Tigers couldn’t close out momentum surges. These are issues you don’t want to see, even in preseason. Keyshawn Hall had 26 points, and Tahaad Pettiford had 17 of his own, but it just wasn’t enough to stop this Cowboys offense. Former coach Bruce Pearl brought in a recruiting class this offseason that fans were hyped for, and that hype was lived up to during their exhibition game. Former Texas Tech guard Kevin Overton poured in 17 points of his own and was one of the bright spots for the Tigers. 

Where the Worry Comes from

Head coach Steve Pearl commented on the lack of a defensive game plan going into that game against Oklahoma State. There were numerous defensive lapses, and the turnover defense, rim protection, and help rotations all appeared shaky. Against a disciplined opponent, those flaws were brutally exposed. There was also a lack of cohesion with many new faces, a new coach, and Auburn just seemed unsure when to press, when to rotate and help, and when to communicate. It’s one thing to bleed energy early, but Auburn allowed Oklahoma State to sustain runs without pushing back. At the end of the day, Auburn just couldn’t control the momentum of Oklahoma State. The starters for Auburn looked solid; however, when the starters struggled, the bench didn’t seem ready to carry the weight. That’s a concern heading into a long season.

Let’s Hit the Brakes Before the Panic Button

Before we draft the obituary, there are some solid reasons not to sound the alarm just yet. For starters, it was just an exhibition game in the middle of October. There was no impact, no rankings or tournament seeding; it was just an elaborate practice to see how they matched up. There were many flaws revealed during the game, and Pearl announced that they can be fixed in practices, scrimmages, or tune-up matchups. A humbling loss can galvanize a team. Auburn’s veteran leaders may not let this become the tone for the season. It’s not too soon to panic if I were an Auburn fan, but this exhibition would definitely raise some questions. If Auburn can take lessons from this and fix its miscues, that panic button might not have to come into play.

Gabriel Friedman

Gabe Friedman is a passionate sports author who is studying Sport Management and Marketing. A college basketball fanatic who also loves to write. Rock Chalk!

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