Auburn has a lackluster effort in a 69-51 loss to Harvard

Auburn played a pretty uninspired game against Harvard out at the Diamondhead Classic in Hawaii.  Offensively, the Tigers looked stagnant, especially against the Crimson zone.  It has been a problem all season long, really, but Kareem Canty has been able to bail out his team with spot on shooting.

The problem today, was that Harvard really decided to take Kareem out of the game by putting a big physical defender in his face the entire evening.  Canty had his worst game in an Auburn uniform.

The Crimson held Auburn to its lowest point total all season in the first half.  The Tigers also really had problems defending against the pass and cut offense that Tommy Amaker's team runs.

Three things we learned

1.  Auburn has plenty of individual talent, but as of right now, they are not a very good team.  I think Canty is a NBA type prospect.  Cimmeon Bowers is a big physical talent.  So are Harris, Spencer, and a host of others, but they just do not seem to play well as a team yet.  I see lots of guys chirping at each other after negative plays, especially on the defensive end.  That is not a good thing right now.

2.  TJ Dunans injury is really big.  Auburn has already lost Taj for the season.  TJ's knee got rolled on a Kareem Canty drive late in the first half, and it didn't look good at all.  If he is out for any extended period of time, it puts more pressure on Kareem and Bryce Brown to handle the basketball.

3.  Defensive Intensity is not there.  It is just not. I know I harp on that point but when shots are not falling, it isa must that you turn up the defensive effort.   I think Pearl is upset with the lack of intensity on that end of the floor as well.. This has to get better if Auburn is to finish in the upper half of the conference.  It was better in the latter part of the second half.  By then it was too late.

So Auburn will get the loser of Oklahoma and Hawaii who play later tonight.  It will most likely be the Rainbows, as I don't see them being able to keep up with the Sooners.  Auburn still has a very good opportunity to finish the trip 2-1, but it will take a much better effort than we saw against Harvard.

War Eagle anyway...