Busting Brackets
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Auburn Basketball: Keys to avoiding the upset to College of Charleston

By Nolan Schmidt

AUBURN, AL - FEBRUARY 14: Bryce Brown
AUBURN, AL - FEBRUARY 14: Bryce Brown /
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ST LOUIS, MO – MARCH 09: Head coach Bruce Pearl of Auburn Tigers reacts during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the quarterfinals round of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 9, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – MARCH 09: Head coach Bruce Pearl of Auburn Tigers reacts during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the quarterfinals round of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 9, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Crash the Glass

One of the most glaring weaknesses in the College of Charleston’s game is their inability to rebound. In their two losses to other NCAA Tournament teams throughout the regular season, they failed to haul in 30 total rebounds. On the season, the Cougars averaged 33 rebounds per game which is 297th in the NCAA (out of 351 registered schools). Now Auburn averages 38 rebounds a game which is in the top 55 in the country. That is a nightmare for College of Charleston especially given their anemic rebounding efforts against major programs.

If Auburn wants to immediately set the tone for this game, they need to crash the boards, hard. Whether on offense or defense, the chances of the Tigers getting the rebound is high. Therefore, they can either move the ball in transition or reset their offense and try for another shot attempt.

It is worth noting that 95 percent of rebounding is based on effort, so if the Tigers do not put in the effort then maybe the Cougars will. However, given their size differential, Auburn should dominate that aspect of the game. If they do, they will have a firm grasp on how this game shakes out.

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