Auburn will look to wrap up its Charleston Classic experience on a high note when it meets Hofstra on Sunday.
The Tigers fell 88-74 to Temple in the semifinals, while the Pride suffered a 19-point loss to Clemson.
Bruce Pearl is still without two of his top players in Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy, but Auburn has seen several players step up in their absence in starting 2-1 on the season.
Meanwhile, Hofstra is looking to get back on track after winning its first three games of the season, including its Charleston Classic opener against Dayton.
Players to Watch
Anfernee McLemore (Auburn)
The sophomore forward certainly stood out in the loss to Temple.
McLemore scored 19 points, added seven rebounds, and blocked five shots in the game, which should allow him to carry a lot of momentum into this one.
While McLemore only averaged 15 minutes a game last season, it’s clear that Pearl is relying on him to provide a lot more minutes going forward with Wiley and Purifoy sidelined.
McLemore has elite athleticism, and as long as he continues to make an impact on the defensive end of the floor, his minutes will continue to go up.
Bryce Brown (Auburn)
After starting the season with a career-high 31-point performance against Norfolk State, Brown has struggled to find his shooting rhythm.
The junior guard is 8 of 29 from the floor and 3 of 18 from 3-point range in his last two games, and getting out of that slump in this game would be a welcomed development for the Tigers.
Brown has played 30 minutes or more in the past two games, so he’s going to continue to be one of the rocks of this team.
However, Auburn would definitely like to see him knock down jump shots in a game where Hofstra will likely force the Tigers into scoring more in the half court.
Justin Wright-Foreman (Hofstra)
The 6-1 guard is averaging nearly 20 shots per contest, and he figures to be the biggest threat to Auburn’s inconsistent defense.
Wright-Foreman scored 20 points in the loss to Clemson, and through four games, he’s only been off the court for a total of eight minutes.
So, Pearl’s squad must make a dedicated effort to know where he is at all times since it’s unlikely that he’ll be on the bench for more than a few minutes in this game.
Rokas Gustys (Hofstra)
Gustys is averaging 11.3 rebounds per game, and perhaps most importantly, he’s already grabbed 18 offensive rebounds this season.
The big man from Lithuania could be a huge asset for Hostra in this game in that he’ll be able to give the Pride extra opportunities at the basket.
Auburn is one of the more athletic teams in the country, and Gustys can help keep the Tigers off the glass.
How Auburn Can Win
The key to victory for the Tigers is very similar to what it was against Temple.
We knew going into the game that the Owls were going to try to slow the tempo and force Auburn to beat them in the half court. That’s exactly what Fran Dunphy’s squad did, and the Tigers weren’t patient enough offensively early on.
Of course, that also equaled impatience on defense, with Auburn struggling to stay disciplined on that end of the floor.
Hofstra will try to keep this game at a slower pace, and it’ll be up to the Tigers to prove that they have the patience needed to win a grind-it-out type of game.
How Hofstra Can Win
Aside from slowing the tempo and not letting Auburn get out in transition, the Pride will need to own the glass.
The Tigers are averaging 13.3 offensive rebounds per game, and not allowing them those extra opportunities will be crucial to Hofstra’s success.
If Gustys and others can keep Auburn’s versatile forwards from getting second chance points, it’ll go a long way towards securing a victory.
Game Details
Date: November 19
Time: 7 PM EST
TV: ESPNU
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Who wins this game on November 19?
- Auburn (55%, 6 Votes)
- Hofstra (45%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 11
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