Auburn Basketball Looks for Fresh Start vs. Coastal Carolina
After a devastating loss at the buzzer to Boston College in Madison Square Garden, Auburn basketball will try to rebound – in both senses – against Coastal Carolina.
Auburn basketball was out to a hot start winning six of their first seven games, but that embarrassing loss to a bad Boston College team really humbled the team.
Now they have to pick themselves up off the floor and finish out this non-conference schedule strong.
They’ll head back home to play Coastal Carolina Thursday night in Auburn Arena.
The Chanticleers are becoming a household name in college sports after winning the College World Series earlier in 2016. Plus, they’ll be moving to Division 1 in college football in 2017.
The basketball team had a very good season last year finishing 21-12 and 12-6 in the Big South, but they lost in the first round of their conference tournament.
They did have a good showing in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament where they made it all the way to the semifinals.
Things have not gone as well this year as they’re out to a 5-6 start and have yet to win a game away from home. They started the season with a 70-53 loss at Coleman Coliseum to Alabama.
Their wins have come against teams you’ve never heard of, and they’ve yet to beat a Division 1 team.
They have three players averaging over 10 points a game in Elijah Wilson (15.7), Jaylen Shaw (12.9) and Demario Beck (11.1).
Beck is also the team’s leading rebounder grabbing 7.8 boards per game. Shaw leads the team with 53 assists on the year.
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This offense can put up some points, and the way Auburn’s defense has played lately I wouldn’t be surprised if we got into a shootout with them.
The one good thing for Auburn is that Coastal Carolina’s tallest player is 6-foot-9, and their tallest starter – Beck – is 7-foot-8.
Auburn basketball has struggled mightily on the boards lately. I think a lot of that has to do with Horace Spencer and LaRon Smith going for the block too often. It’s led to some highlight plays, but it’s left the lane empty of Auburn rebounders.
I really want see Auburn become more aggressive on the boards in this game as they can’t continue to get outrebounded 49-32 like they did against Boston College and expect to win games.
At home I think Auburn basketball bounces back in a big way and gets the win on Thursday night … or at least they better.
Prediction: Auburn – 82 Coastal Carolina – 71
