Observations: Auburn 91, Ohio State 53
For the second time this week, the Tigers dominated on both ends to completely blow out a team. But this one came against No. 20 in NET.
For the 12 Days of Christmas, we’re running the 12 Days of Observer. You can get your first 12 months of a subscription for $5 per month or $50 for the whole year. There’s no special link or code. Just click the button below to get started.
If you’re already a subscriber, consider purchasing a gift for someone on your list at this discounted rate — and you can email me at the1andonlyJF@gmail.com with proof of your purchase to get free time added to your own account on here.
C Johni Broome (Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers)
ATLANTA — Shortly after Johni Broome grabbed his 20th rebound of the game Saturday, he walked over to the Auburn bench and told Bruce Pearl his day was done.
Broome had recorded the first 20-20 game of his illustrious college basketball career — and the first one for Auburn since 1989. With a team-high six assists, zero turnovers and three blocks to go along with it, the Tigers’ big man had secured the best statistical performance of his career.
And there was still 11:44 left on the clock.
“He said, ‘Coach, go ahead and put Turtle in there and let him get some minutes,’” Pearl said, referring to Ja’Heim Hudson.
The Tigers were in cruise control. The reserves would play almost all of the “fourth quarter,” with a pair of walk-ons getting into the game in the final minutes. Thousands and thousands of Auburn fans in the stands voiced their approval as Auburn found itself up by as many as 44 points.
A Broome showcase in less than 30 minutes of work? A lead that wasn’t less than 10 for the final 34 minutes, less than 20 for the final 24 minutes and less than 30 for the final 12 minutes? Bench players like Jahki Howard and Hudson — who were at the center of a headline-making travel incident just a month ago — scoring for fun?
That sounds like a December paycheck game inside Neville Arena.
Instead, it was a neutral-site matchup in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, and it was coming against the No. 20 team in the NCAA’s NET ratings.
“You know, I think part of the reason for the margin was just our respect for Ohio State and our respect for the program,” Pearl said after Auburn’s 91-53 win.
That’s a whole lot of respect, considering Auburn made Ohio State look like North Alabama on Saturday.
But that’s exactly what Auburn basketball is doing this season. Whenever the Tigers are solid favorites — even in Quadrant 1 games like this one — they usually have the game firmly in control by halftime.
Last year, Auburn was beating underwhelming non-conference opponents and searching desperately for a signature win.
This year, Auburn already has five Quad 1 wins inside its first 10 games. It’s nearly 5 ratings points clear of the No. 2 team in KenPom.
And there’s still a lingering sense that the Tigers haven’t hit their ceiling yet. For example, Auburn went almost seven whole minutes without scoring in the first half.
Also, as Pearl pointed out afterwards, Broome’s best-ever statistical performance came when he went 9-18 from the field and 1-3 from deep.
“I feel like I can get better,” Broome said. “I shot 50 percent today. I missed a lot of shots today. I wouldn’t say it’s my best basketball. I feel like I can play a lot better. I feel like I can play better basketball right now.”
Consider yourselves warned, the rest of college basketball.
Here are three big Observations from Auburn’s 38-point rout of Ohio State at the Holiday Hoopsgiving event in Atlanta, along with Rotation Charts, Nerd Stats and the Quote of the Day.
PG/SG Denver Jones (David Gray/Auburn Tigers)
This was a defensive masterclass
Heading into Saturday, Ohio State was the No. 5 team in the country in 3-point shooting. The Buckeyes, who had four double-digit scorers and a fifth experienced weapon in old pal Meechie Johnson, averaged hitting 10 triples on 23 attempts per game.
Auburn held Ohio State to a 6-16 mark from downtown. Half of those makes came in the final five minutes, when the Tigers were actively doubling up the Buckeyes.
Ohio State has been red-hot on 3-pointers when it’s won this season. Auburn simply took that option away until the game was, almost hilariously, well in hand.