'You can't be anything but impressed': Bruce Pearl on Auburn's defense vs Mississippi State


'You can't be anything but impressed': Bruce Pearl on Auburn's defense vs Mississippi State

Auburn basketball made it look easy securing its fourth conference victory over Mississippi State 88-66 to improve to 16-1 overall.

With Johni Broome sidelined with an ankle injury, the Tigers had five players finish with double digit point totals. However, the Tigers defensive prowess stole the show.

Mississippi State shot 35% from the floor as a team and 13% from behind the arc. Auburn coach Bruce Pearl credited that a lot to his frontcourt stepping up in Broome's absence.

"I thought the defensive game plan was great. But more than anything, Chaney Johnson and Dylan Cardwell, their ability to stay down, be second off the floor, blocked all those shots. Just really worked hard at defending without fouling. That was the difference in the game," Pearl said.

"That starting five is as good a defensive unit as you can put out there on the floor. I think they just locked in, bought in. And when Mississippi State made a little bit of a run, and we had different lineups out there, it was because we weren't as locked in defensively."

Denver Jones presence on defense was huge as he was matched up with the Bulldogs leading scorer Josh Hubbard.

Jones held him to just two made field goals as Hubbard finished the game without hitting a single three-pointer. The Tigers also finished with 10 blocks as a team, highlighted by a chase down block from Jones in transition.

"I mean, I don't think it's anything you can work on. I think it's just instinct. I think he's just got great instincts, and that's part of being a great defender, as we all know," Auburn guard Miles Kelly said. "And he has a 40-inch vertical. That's another fact that goes into play. But he's an overall great defender, and he makes a lot of great plays because he has great instincts."

Despite Auburn being outrebounded in three of its first four conference games, including Tuesday night. Pearl was happy to see his guard Miles Kelly finish the game with 10 rebounds.

"Miles Kelly having eight defensive rebounds -- that was one of the best offenses for Mississippi State so really good," Pearl said. "This is Miles back-to-back-to-back now, putting a few great games together."

Now with a road game at Georgia ahead for Saturday, Chaney Johnson wants to see the Tigers finally play a complete game.

"I say basketball's a game of runs. Teams are going to go on runs, we're going to go on runs, but I do feel like we need to start putting two halves completely together," Johnson said. "I feel like sometimes, we let our foot off the gas a little bit; start being a little more relax. And that just shows, you know, we'll go in the film room and watch film. And for a team that's doing as well as we are, and being No. 1, I feel like we still haven't reached our full potential yet."

The Tigers will tipoff with Georgia Saturday at noon and it will be televised on the SEC Network.

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