AUBURN, Ala. – There’s no mystery about what No. 20 Auburn can expect Thursday when the Tigers welcome Merrimack to Neville Arena.
“This is a team that’s going to play 100-percent zone the entire game,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said. “It’s a unique 2-3 zone because their wings are so high up the floor and they fly around.”
Auburn will enjoy a size advantage against the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent from Massachusetts.
“You’re going to look at their starting lineup and you’re not going to be able to tell who the 4-man is because they’re all guards out there,” Pearl said. “They’re all very quick, very athletic. They have active hands. They were top 10 in the country last year in forcing turnovers.
“They do a really good job of creating offense from their defense. They were No. 15 in the country last year in scoring defense, allowing 64 points per game, seventh in steals in the country and 15th in forced turnovers per game. That defense is obviously a calling card for them.”
Auburn junior Kevin Overton knows all about forcing turnovers. In the Tigers’ season-opening 95-90 overtime win over Bethune-Cookman, Overton made three of his five steals in the final minute of regulation and OT.
“Trying to pick it up defensively, locking into the end of the game,” Overton said. “Guard the ball, I took pride In that.”
Now it’s on to the next challenge.
“How can we adjust to this team and do what we need to do?” Overton said. “That’s what I’m here for, keeping everybody on the same page in these small moments and not being satisfied that we won the game. Moving on to what’s next.”
What’s next for Auburn is a MAAC attack, the second in a string of three straight home games to tip off the 2025-26 season.
“We’ve got to do a good job of guarding without fouling,” Pearl said. “We can’t turn the ball over. We can’t have nonchalant, lazy passes against the zone.
“We’ve got to do a good job of getting to our spots, executing and doing all the little things you have to do to execute against a really good zone defense.”
No. 20 Auburn and Merrimack tip off Thursday at 7 p.m. CT in Neville Arena on SEC Network+. Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will provide play-by-play and analysis for listeners on the Auburn Sports Network.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer