AUBURN, Ala. – Bruce Pearl opened his press conference Thursday talking about how this is a "big week" for Auburn basketball. What he should have said was this is going to be a big two weeks for the Tigers, who are currently ranked No. 8 nationally, as they play Dayton, UAB, NC State and Murray State over the next weeks. The combined record of those four teams is 23-7.
But Pearl knows better than to look ahead. He knows the challenge that this Dayton team will present when they come to Auburn Arena on Saturday. The Flyers (5-3) have made the NCAA tournament in four of the last five seasons.
"Dayton is going to hit us in the mouth," Pearl said. "They're physical, and they play great defense. Their defensive numbers are twice as good as last year's team. They're going to be patient. They play at one of the slowest paces in the country. They'll score early if you're bad in transition – they're not afraid to run – but if you're back defensively, they're going to make you guard throughout the possession.
"Because there will be fewer possessions, it'll be a closer game. By virtue of we haven't had a close game at home yet, free throw shooting, execution and valuing possessions will be more important than it's been so far at any of our other home games."
As good as Dayton has been defensively, this Auburn team has proven early this year that they can defend a little, too. The Tigers are coming off a game in which they held UNC Asheville to 41 points, the fewest by an opponent since Auburn held Alabama to 37 points in 2013. It was the fifth time in eight game this season that Auburn had held an opponent under 60 points.
"I'm pleased with the defense," Pearl said. "I thought, against Asheville – even though we had our struggles offensively as far as efficiency is concerned – we never stopped playing hard and being engaged defensively. Every opponent is going to bring different challenges.
"Talk to me after these next four games. I think between Dayton, UAB, NC State and Murray State, we're going to continue to learn a lot about our strengths and weaknesses."
First up is Dayton. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday from Auburn Arena. Rod Bramblett and Sonny Smith will have the radio call on 93.9 Tiger FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app. The game will also be televised on SEC Network with Dave Neal and Pat Bradley on the call.
Player to watch: Bryce Brown
It's no secret that Bryce Brown has a major impact on the game for the Tigers. During Auburn's 20-1 stretch at home over the last two seasons, Brown has averaged 17.2 points per game. In that timeframe, the senior has knocked down 77 3-pointers (3.7 per game) and has shot 44 percent from behind the arc. He's also recorded 27 steals in the last 21 games inside Auburn Arena.
The defense starts with Bryce Brown," Pearl said. "Bryce Brown is the best on-ball defender in the country. If you can pressure the quarterback, you can really bother somebody's passing game. Bryce is able to do that."
Inside the series: Dayton
Auburn is 1-4 all-time against Dayton, but the Tigers knocked off the Flyers, 73-60, on the road last season in the most recent meeting between the two schools. Chuma Okeke, who was just a freshman in that game, finished with 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Balanced scoring
Seven Tigers are averaging at least 7.3 points per game including Brown (16.0), Jared Harper (13.9), Austin Wiley (12.3), Okeke (11.3), Malik Dunbar (9.9), Samir Doughty (8.6) and Anfernee McLemore (7.3). Auburn has placed six players in double figures in two of its seven games while eight different Tigers have scored in double figures in at least one game this season.
For the season, the Tigers are averaging 86.4 points per game, which is 19th nationally, and have scored at least 88 points in five of eight games.
Hot start
With Tuesday's win over UNC Ashville, Auburn moved to 7-1 for the second straight season after having just one such start in the previous 13 years. Last season, the Tigers extended their hot start to 16-1 after beginning the 2011-12 season 8-1.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @greg_ostendorf
No. 8 Auburn begins tough two-week stretch with Dayton
