Auburn's play on the basketball court has been a tad inconsistent this season, according to head coach Bruce Pearl.
Three days after putting up 105 points at home against Louisiana Lafayette, the Tigers couldn't buy a basket against Tulsa in Las Vegas, managing 35 points in the loss.
Part of the inconsistency of scoring has been the absence of the nation's leading returning scorer Antoine Mason.
"We've played 80 percent of our season without him," Pearl said. "80 percent is a significant number. We've played four games without him and one with him. So any time you get guys back, it does change your chemistry and locations. His learning curve is going to be affected. It's not so much where to be as far as our plays are concerned, but probably more on the defensive side where he had a lot of room to grow."
Pearl also said Mason is a different type of player and should be at full health to be the best player he can be.
"I think the other thing too is that Antoine's game is based on explosiveness and power," Pearl said. "It's not just based on finesse and skill. He needs to be closer to 90 percent or 100 percent to be effective, whereas if it were a finesse player or skill player, he could get away without that explosiveness because it has never been a part of his game. For Antoine, that is his game. If he's back, but not explosive, he's not as effective. At least getting him back will get him closer to that learning curve of being explosive and able to contribute."
Senior guard KC Ross-Miller said whenever Mason returns, he should be able to immediately begin making an impact again.
"Obviously, he was someone who could score when we were struggling against Tulsa," Ross-Miller said. "On defense, he was a bigger guy, an extra body and his experience as well. He is a big part offensively and defensively in our schemes."
Driving to the basket has been an issue plaguing the Tigers, as well as early foul troubles, which the Tigers can't afford because of their thin roster.
"When you have KT [Harrell] on one end and Antoine [Mason] on the other end of the floor, it obviously opens the middle lanes up for your point guards and your bigs to make plays," Pearl said. "I still think if you have Tahj [Shamsid-Deen] on one end and KT on the other, you still have to guard him. I think the issue out in Vegas was foul trouble. The issue was when KT picked up two fouls against Tulsa in the first 70 seconds of the game. All of a sudden, you are looking at no [Matthew] Atewe, no Mason, no KT and we're in trouble and a little bit of panic set in."
Though Pearl has talked about the lack of depth this year, he pointed out that several guys stepped up and made plays during the team's time in Vegas.
"KC Ross-Miller has played more minutes with some success," Pearl said. "Malcolm Canada played very well in Vegas. He was solid and he got more minutes by virtue of Antoine not being there and some of the foul trouble. TJ Lang, who we would have not anticipated being in the rotation, has been in the rotation for the last four games. Again, just having his ability to stretch the defense a little bit has caused his learning curves to improve. What if we didn't have that body? The next body is Cole Stockton, who is another walk-on."
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