Auburn Basketball: 3 keys to beating Ohio State Buckeyes in Atlanta

Auburn has been one of the top teams in college basketball this season, dominating nearly every opponent, and is currently 8-1 on the season. The lone loss was to Duke in the SEC/ACC Challenge, but since then, Auburn has destroyed Richmond by 44 points to get its season back on track. 

The Tigers have another power conference opponent on the non-conference schedule; this time, it’s Ohio State on a neutral court in Atlanta. The Buckeyes have already faced two SEC opponents this season, beating Texas and losing to Texas A&M. Auburn hopes to drop OSU to 1-2 against the SEC, and here are 3 keys to doing so in Atlanta.

1. Defend the three

Ohio State is one of the most efficient three-point shooting teams this year. The Buckeyes are hitting 41.6 percent from deep, which currently ranks fourth in D1, on just under 10 made per game. OSU has multiple players capable of hurting Auburn from deep, but Bruce Thornton (16.2 ppg) and John Mobley Jr (12.9 ppg) make more than 53 percent of their threes. The Buckeyes have made 10 or more threes in five games this season, and have shot better than 33 percent in nine games. 

Auburn has been okay, but not great at slowing down opponents from deep. The Tigers are holding opponents to six made threes per game, but teams are making those threes 32.3 percent. Auburn has yet to allow a team to make double-digit threes in a game this season. Duke got the closest with nine, and the Tigers lost that game. While Ohio State isn’t quite on that same level as Duke talent-wise, the Buckeyes can make up for most of it from behind the arc. 

2. Get to the free throw line

One area where Auburn can get separation from Ohio State is at the free throw line. This season, the Buckeyes are getting to the line 19 times per game and making 67.6 percent. But OSU is allowing opposing teams to get to the line nearly 22 times per game while making 73.6 percent. In its three losses this season, Ohio State opponents have made 73 free throws which can easily flip a game. 

Auburn has been really good from the line this season, making 75 percent of its free throw attempts. While the Tiger's attempts per game are slightly lower than OSU at 18.2, Auburn has three games this season where it attempted more than 20 free throws and has made better than 70 percent from the line in 7 games this year. Auburn will need to take easy points when it can get them, and one big way of doing that is by making the Buckeyes pay for sending them to the line.

3. Win the turnover battle

Auburn is one of the better teams this year for protecting the ball. The Tigers rank towards the bottom of D1 teams in turnovers per game with only 9.1, but Auburn also doesn’t force many turnovers. Against Duke, Auburn’s lone loss this season, the Tigers only forced four turnovers, limiting any extra scoring opportunities. Ohio State, on the other hand, turns the ball over slightly more but does a good job of forcing turnovers. This season, the Buckeyes are forcing just over 12 turnovers per game while giving up the ball 11.6 times per game. 

Something will have to give in this matchup. Auburn will need to get some stops and some points on turnovers to really put this game away. The Tigers have only had more than 10 turnovers three times this year, so ball security hasn’t been an issue. Forced turnovers haven’t been a priority, especially with how well the team defends in the half-court. 

Auburn should win this one with relative ease, but if Ohio State can force the Tigers into turnovers then the game will be much closer than it should be.