Auburn Tigers vs Richmond Spiders Picks and Predictions December 8th 2024

No. 2 Auburn Focuses on Defensive Improvement vs. Richmond

Auburn, ranked No. 2 in the nation, aims to shore up its defense and bounce back from a rare loss as it hosts Richmond on Sunday afternoon.

Auburn’s Challenge: Reclaim Defensive Form

The Tigers (7-1) have proven their ability to compete with top-tier opponents, securing wins over ranked teams like Houston, Iowa State, and North Carolina. However, their defensive performance faltered in an 84-78 loss to No. 9 Duke on Wednesday, where they allowed a season-high 84 points on 50 percent shooting.

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Auburn’s defense struggled to contain Duke star Cooper Flagg, who scored 22 points, and allowed 16 fast-break points along with 20 second-chance points.

“We’re disappointed,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “Our defense let us down. Duke was brilliant offensively.”

Despite starting the game with a 13-2 lead, Auburn found itself outscored 82-65 for the remainder of the contest. Pearl emphasized the need for improvement in areas the team can control, including rebounding and turnovers.

Johni Broome’s Continued Dominance

Even in defeat, Auburn saw another stellar performance from forward Johni Broome, who posted 20 points and 12 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double. Broome has now scored 20 or more points in six games this season, solidifying his status as a key offensive and defensive presence.

Richmond’s Challenge: Upset Opportunity

Richmond (4-4) enters the matchup looking for its first top-10 win under head coach Chris Mooney since the 2020-21 season. The Spiders were picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic 10 but have shown flashes of defensive tenacity, holding Louisiana Tech without a basket for nearly seven minutes in a recent narrow loss.

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Led by DeLonnie Hunt, who averages 20 points per game on 50.5 percent shooting, Richmond is shooting 46.3 percent from the field as a team, the second-best mark in the A-10. Hunt’s standout moment came in a Gulf Coast Showcase game against Ball State, where he scored a career-high 28 points and led a defensive turnaround that sealed a 73-60 win.

“I thought the last two nights our defense has been so, so improved,” Mooney said. “We’re grinding.”

Key Matchup: Broome vs. Richmond Defense

Broome faced Richmond early in his college career as a freshman at Morehead State, where the Spiders held him to just six points. Richmond will need a similar defensive effort to neutralize Auburn’s standout forward and keep the game within reach.

What’s at Stake

• Auburn: A win would reinforce the Tigers’ top-tier status and help them regain confidence before upcoming games against Ohio State and Purdue.
• Richmond: The Spiders seek their seventh win over a top-10 opponent under Mooney and their 17th victory against a ranked team since 2005-06.

Outlook

Auburn will look to refocus on defense while continuing to rely on Broome’s interior presence. Richmond, despite its strong defense and shooting, faces an uphill battle against a motivated Auburn squad playing on its home floor.