Size a challenge for Auburn against Louisiana-Lafayette
AUBURN -- After a dismal shooting and defensive performance against Colorado, Auburn looks to get back on track against Louisiana-Lafayette tonight.
The Tigers (1-1) will have to cope with some of the issues presented by Colorado, mainly size, against the Ragin' Cajuns, who have 6-foot-9 Shawn Long and 6-foot-7 Devonta Walker, who are each averaging 11.5 points and over five rebounds to start the season.
"They play 11 guys and they're very athletic and extremely well coached," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "My concern would be that, as I look at the two things that have bothered us a little bit, one is size and the second would be athleticism. Colorado's starting power forward, (Wesley) Gordon, ... he's a good player, a solid Pac-12 player, but he looked like a first team Pac-12 player against us because he was able to get offensive rebounds, get post touches really close to the basket and we don't have enough size to challenge him at the rim.
"That could be a problem against teams that have some size and Louisiana-Lafayette has got some size. They obviously have one great player and I think their power forward is also awfully good, so that going to be a problem, size."
Auburn was outrebounded 28-13 in the second half against Colorado and had a 12:18 shooting drought during which Colorado went on a 24-0 run.
Cinmeon Bowers had 13 rebounds and Jordon Granger added five, but starters K.T. Harrell, K.C. Ross-Miller and Tahj Shamsid-Deen combined for just three.
"(Defensive rebounding) concerns me but what would concern me more was if we were in the right places at the right time and they still scored and rebounded," Pearl said. "We were in the wrong places too often and that's something that I can correct and we will try to correct as we get better."
A tough early road trip hasn't affected the team's confidence.
"Everyone decided to get better and put in the work," Ross-Miller said. "It is still early so we are still going to make mistakes, but we have the ability to be a great team. We just have to execute better."
Auburn will need more inside presence than Bowers, who has opened the season with back-to-back double-doubles. The Tigers may be without starting guard Antoine Mason, who is questionable due to an ankle sprain he suffered in the season opener with Milwaukee last week.
"(Tonight) will be a real challenge," Pearl said. "We're going to have to elevate our play to win."
---
WHEN: 8 p.m. today
WHERE: Auburn Arena, Auburn
RECORDS: Auburn (1-1), Louisiana-Lafayette (1-1)
ON THE AIR: TV — FS South; Radio — WMSP-AM 740, WLWI-FM 92.3
AUBURN LINEUP: G K.C. Ross-Miller (6-0, GS) 12.0 ppg.; G Tahj Shamsid-Deen, (5-9, So.) 2.0 ppg.; G K.T. Harrell (6-4, Sr.) 20.0 ppg., 3.0 spg.; F Jordon Granger (6-5, Jr.) 4.0 ppg., 4.0 rpg.; F Cinmeon Bowers (6-7, Jr.) 14.5 ppg., 15.0 rpg.
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE LINEUP: G Xavian Rimmer (6-2, Sr.) 3.5 ppg.; G Jay Wright (6-1, So.) 3.0 ppg.; G Brian Williams (6-5, Sr.) 10.0 ppg., 5.5 rpg.; F Shawn Long, (6-9, Jr.) 11.5 ppg., 5.0 rpg.; F Devonta Walker (6-7, Jr.) 11.5 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 4.0 apg.
NOTEWORTHY: Bowers has opened the season with back-to-back double-doubles. The last Auburn player to do that was Rob Chubb in 2013. Should he make it three straight, Bowers will be the first since the late Korvotney Barber in 2009. … K.T. Harrell has scored 20 points in both games this season, bringing his career total to 14 times in 32 games. … Graduate student Antoine Mason is questionable for tonight's game. He did not dress against Colorado due to an ankle sprain. … This is the final on-campus game as part of the MGM Grand Main Event, which continues in Las Vegas next week. Auburn plays Tulsa on Monday with the winner playing the winner of Oklahoma State and Oregon State on Wednesday. … Auburn is 36-10 all-time against the Sun Belt. … Auburn holds a 5-3 edge in the all-time series, including 4-0 at home, though the teams haven't met since 2000. Bruce Pearl is 4-0 all-time against the Ragin' Cajuns.