Auburn will look for it second win in as many days when it takes on Temple on Friday in the semifinals of the Charleston Classic.
The Tigers were dominant in their 73-54 victory over Indiana State on Thursday, with Bruce Pearl’s team holding the Sycamores to just 30 percent shooting from the floor.
Auburn got great scoring balance with four players scoring in double figures, and that depth will need to be on display against a Temple team that downed Old Dominion in the first round.
The Owls were paced by Shizz Alston Jr., who scored 23 points, and got 20 points from Quinton Rose to advance in the winner’s bracket.
The victor in Friday’s matchup will head to the championship game on Sunday to play either Clemson or Hofstra.
Players to Watch
Chuma Okeke (Auburn)
I loved what I saw from Okeke in Auburn’s victory over Indiana State.
The talented freshman played only 19 minutes, but contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and a blocked shot. Foul trouble limited him in that game, but when he’s on the floor, he simply makes things happen.
Okeke will continue to develop as the season progresses, but it’s clear that he’s the type of player that can thrive in Pearl’s system.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone if he’s a big time contributor when conference play rolls around in late December.
Desean Murray (Auburn)
Murray is off to a fast start in his first year on the court with the Tigers, and his double-double against the Sycamores will likely be the first of many this season.
Like Okeke, it’s Murray’s versatility that will make him invaluable as the season goes along, especially if Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy remained sidelined for a long period of time.
Many people like to point out that Murray is an undersized forward at 6-3, but his overall skill set is more than enough to make up for any disadvantages in that area.
Shizz Alston Jr. (Temple)
The highly-talented guard is the driving force for this team and will rarely come off the floor for Temple, which was evident by his playing 36 minutes a game last year.
He’s already off to a great start in scoring the 23 points in game one and knocking down 5 of 8 attempts from the 3-point line.
He will undoubtedly provide quite the challenge in the backcourt.
Obi Enechionyia (Temple)
The 6-10 senior struggled inside the arc against Old Dominion in connecting on only 2 of 10 two-shots, but he did knock two 3-pointers.
However, it’s his size and rebounding ability that could make him a force against the Tigers. Enechionyia grabbed six rebounds in the opener, which was right in line with his average from last season.
How he attacks the glass will be important in helping Temple keep up with a very athletic Auburn squad on the boards.
How Auburn Can Win
After facing an Indiana State team that went 17 of 26 from 3-point range in its first game, Auburn will now get a Temple squad that went 10 of 19 from long distance.
The Tigers were able to hold the Sycamores to a low percentage (30 percent), and that’ll need to be the case here in trying to cool down the Owls.
Auburn will also need to keep up the defensive pressure (without fouling) so that defense can become offense.
That’s how Pearl’s teams have always succeeded, and after scoring 25 points off of 21 Indiana State turnovers, it would serve the Tigers well to make that a constant theme going forward.
How Temple Can Win
The Owls will need to prevent Auburn from forcing those turnovers to keep this more of a half court game.
There is simply no doubt that the Tigers want to push the tempo and make this is a fast game from start to finish, so Temple must limit possessions and force Auburn to play defense.
And considering that the Tigers are still far from the most consistent defensive team in the country, it’ll allow the Owls to have a shot at victory.
Also, limiting Auburn’s extra opportunities on the offensive glass will be a big key for Temple.
Game Details
Date: November 17
Time: 11 AM EST
TV: ESPN2
Who wins this semifinal matchup in the Charleston Classic?
- Auburn (78%, 84 Votes)
- Temple (22%, 24 Votes)
Total Voters: 108
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