Semifinal Recap

Auburn/Mississippi State

Auburn was very impressive in yesterday’s win over Mississippi State. This team is really playing well and are getting contributions from a lot of players. This was the most physical game of the tournament and Mississippi State tried the same game plan against Auburn as they did against Tennessee.

I thought Auburn was prepared and met the Bulldogs with the physical play. Johni Broome was great on the defensive side of the ball and I thought he really bothered Tolu Smith. Smith missed a lot of shots around the rim and I credit that to Broome. 

Auburn only hit six threes, but all of them came at a crucial point in the game. Chad Baker-Mazara hit the biggest one that put the game to rest. I am really impressed with Baker-Mazara and his game. I have seen him three times now and I think he has the most NBA potential on this Auburn team.

He plays really well off the ball and can score at all three levels. He is also a long armed defender and his energy and toughness is what makes this team go. For Mississippi State, there is nothing to be down about. They took Auburn right down to the wire and no one is going to want to play this team in the tournament. 

They have a great post player and a lot of big time athletes, who can really defend. You pair that with a guard who can score 30 on any given night, in Josh Hubbard, that is a recipe to get to the second weekend. 

Florida/ Texas A&M

Florida overcomes a 18 point first half deficit to defeat the Aggies. This Florida team can just beat you in so many ways. They can really rebound the ball and have great shot making guards.

Todd Golden is a rising star in the coaching world. His ability to make adjustments and draw up actions out of timeouts is fantastic. In the second half, he adjusted and went to an empty side ball screen. This clears out an entire side of the court and uses Tyrese Samuel as the roll man. Samuel is a great jumper and can finish around the rim.

Texas A&M is an early help defense and always has a defender ready to rotate on the baseline, but Florida put a shooter in the opposite corner, which caused A&M to be late on the rotation to the rolling big. This is great stuff from Todd Golden. 

For Texas A&M, it was a matter of they did not make the shots in the second half. Wade Taylor was fantastic in the first half, but as a team they did not make the shots in the second half, like they did against Kentucky. Tyrece Radford struggled from the field and missed some shots around the rim in the second half.

I thought the middle pick and roll got the Aggies a lot of great looks, they just did not capitalize on their opportunites. I also think the lack of depth the Aggies have caught up to them, as a lot of their shots were short. Florida has much better depth. 

Championship Preview

Auburn/ Florida

I am very intrigued by this matchup and I think it will come down to the Auburn guards. The guards for the Tigers have to make some perimeter shots because Florida is going to score. This will be a home-like atmosphere for Auburn, as there were a lot of Auburn fans in Nashville yesterday.

Aden Holloway, Denver Jones, and Trey Donaldson need to make 4 or 5 threes combined to win this game. I do think this is a bad matchup for the Auburn Tigers. I think Auburn should try to establish Johni Broome and see if Florida will double him in the post. I also would like them to use Jaylin Williams in a lot of pick and pop actions. 

For Florida, the only thing I am worried about with this Gators squad is fatigue. I think this Florida team is a very complete team and can win in so many ways. The Gators have the better guard play and I think that will be the difference in the game.

I think Florida will try to isolate Johni Broome on the perimeter and make him move his feet. You are going to see a lot of clear out ball screens and put Broome in the actions.

I do like Florida to cut down the nets and win the SEC Tournament championship.