Size of Xavier a big challenge in toughest test to date
AUBURN -- Today is the biggest test to date for an Auburn team slowly beginning to come together.
Xavier (8-2), a perennial NCAA Tournament program, comes to the Plains with a pair of 6-foot-10 post players and four of five starters averaging at least nine points. The Musketeers have an abundance of size, depth and skill that no opponent has posed to Auburn (4-5) so far this season.
"Xavier will expose some things that we can't control in some ways," Auburn coach A said. "They will have two legitimate post presences in the game at the same time at the 4 and the 5. ... We can't let their size overwhelm us. They are bigger at the 5, bigger at 4, bigger at 3 and that is something we have to be able to physically address."
Matt Stainbrook and James Farr, both 6-10, are averaging 6.9 and 7.0 rebounds, respectively and pose an enormous challenge to an undersized Auburn front court of Cinmeon Bowers (6-foot-7) and Jordon Granger (6-foot-8).
Seven-footer Trayvon Reed is working his way into the rotation, with eight rebounds in 12 minutes against Winthrop.
"I believe it hasn't sunk in with all of us," point guard Malcolm Canada said of having a 7-foot-2 center. It is great to have that back there. If we get blown by, we have a rim protector now. It is a good feeling to have now."
As much as Pearl would like to play Reed and Bowers together today, there hasn't been enough time for the freshman to learn the offense and for Bowers to learn the power forward position.
"I just don't know that from a learning curve that we're ready," Pearl said.
Pearl's encouraged by what he's seen from Reed in his first week on campus.
"He is willing to compete. It's hard to be a tough guy when everybody is so much stronger than you are," Pearl said. "There aren't many tough guys out there that aren't the stronger guy in a match-up. The fact that he's competing and not afraid is really encouraging. The other thing too is he's been a really good teammate so far. He is likeable, has been coachable, his teammates have embraced him in a short period of time. There is just something about when he is on the floor. He gives us a defensive presence."
It's not only the inside matchups Auburn has to worry about. Xavier is led by freshman small forward Trevon Bluiett, who Pearl believes is the "best pro" on the squad.
K.T. Harrell will again be charged with guarding the best opposing player on the floor, which he's done well with in recent games.
"He is a better basketball player. He is a more complete basketball player," Pearl said. "When I'm now in a position where I'm saying, 'Alright K.T. I want you on their best offensive player,' I don't know if that's happened in his career.
"He has physically gotten stronger, quicker, leaner and taken more pride. It requires more energy. At the same time we rely on him so much on the offensive end and he's delivered with pretty good consistency. Regardless of where we are, K.T. is getting better. He's helping build that foundation."
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WHEN: 5 p.m. today
WHERE: Auburn Arena, Auburn
RECORDS: Auburn 4-5, Xavier 8-2
ON THE AIR: TV – SEC Network. Radio - WMSP-AM 740, WLWI-FM 92.3
AUBURN LINEUP: G Antoine Mason, 6-1, GS., 15.3 ppg.; G Tahj Shamsid-Deen, 5-9, So., 7.4 ppg.; G K.T. Harrell, 6-4, Sr., 17.6 ppg.; F Jordon Granger, 6-5, Jr., 5.9 ppg., 4.1 rpg.; F Cinmeon Bowers, 6-7, Jr., 12.1 ppg., 12.1 rpg.
XAVIER LINEUP: G Dee Davis, 6-0, Sr., 9.1 ppg., 6.1 apg.; G Remy Abell, 6-4, Jr., 9.0 ppg.; F Trevon Bluiett, 6-6, Fr., 14.0 ppg., 4.4 rpg.; F James Farr, 6-10, Jr., 5.1 ppg., 7.0 rpg.; C Matt Stainbrook, 6-10, Sr., 13.4 ppg., 6.9 rpg.;
NOTEWORTHY: Cinmeon Bowers notched his sixth double-double of the season against Winthrop and is third nationally in rebounding (12.1 per game). ... Antoine Mason is 20 points shy of 2,000 career points. … Auburn is 4-0 when four or more players score in double-figures and 0-5 when three or less do so. … Auburn's last four opponents have shot a combined 18.7 percent from 3-point range. … This is the second of five straight home games for Auburn. The Tigers are 3-1 at home this season. … The first 1,000 fans will receive a Bruce Pearl bobblehead. … Auburn is 10-11 all-time against current Big East teams, including 3-4 against Xavier, which has won four straight in the series. Auburn last beat the Musketeers in 1970. … Xavier is 13-4 against the SEC since 2008, with wins over Alabama and Missouri this month.