Let’s overreact to Auburn Basketball’s loss at Mississippi State

Do the Tigers have an effort problem on the road?

Auburn Basketball has now dropped two games in a row. In a vacuum, sure winning on the road is hard, but does this loss tell a greater story? Auburn has now lost four games this year, with three being true road games and one a neutral site game in South Dakota. One thing that seems to stand out in these losses is a lack of effort. In each of these losses it just felt like the other team cared more. Does Auburn lack focus and effort on the road? 

The Tigers have, however, blown out Arkansas and Vanderbilt in their buildings as well as Indiana neutral site. Maybe a less reactive thought would be Auburn’s effort doesn’t look great right now. Mississippi State out rebounded Bruce Pearl’s team today by 15. The only word for that is pathetic and represents a lack of effort. The Tigers looked sloppy and apathetic, like they were playing some sort of pointless exhibition.

Auburn’s home court advantage is becoming legendary, and there never seems to be a lack of effort in Neville Arena. The Tigers may win every game they play at home this year, but how can they bring more of that edge and desire to the neutral sites hosting the SEC and NCAA Tournaments? The answer likely comes from introspection and focus. Basketball is like boxing, and the pendulum of motivation swings. Winning breeds complacency, and losing builds desire. Auburn Basketball has been knocked to the mat. Will they stay down, or will they come up swinging? Hopefully some soul searching follows Saturdays disappointing disaster for the Tigers.