Auburn Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Tigers home matchup vs. Kentucky

2) Pack the paint

Speaking of teams that struggle to shoot from the perimeter, that mantra fits Kentucky as well. The Wildcats rank outside the top 200 in three-point shooting, making just 32.3 percent of their shots from behind the arc.

Big man Nate Sestina is the only player that shoots over 40 percent from long-range, yet he only has 16 made three-pointers on the season. Immanuel Quickley and Tyrese Maxey are their most consistent three-point shooters, yet the 6-3 guards combine to make only 35.4 percent of their shots from deep.

Because of this, Kentucky gets most of their offense from their frontcourt (namely Nick Richards) and by having their guards penetrate and attack the basket.

How do you take that away? Auburn is the smaller team but does have a legitimate big man in Austin Wiley along with forward Anfernee McLemore, both of whom are among the nation’s best shot-blockers. They’ll lead Auburn’s effort down low, though Pearl will likely have everyone packing the paint to cut off driving lanes and limit the effectiveness of Kentucky’s frontcourt.

I’d expect to see the Tigers go with a lot less pressure on the perimeter than normal and for them to over-help on drives and post touches, as their best chance to win is to force Kentucky to beat them by shooting the three.