The Auburn Tigers like to shoot it from downtown. Heading into their game with Alabama this Saturday at Auburn Arena, the Tigers lead the Southeastern Conference in 3-pointers made with 222 and 3-pointers attempted at 605. If you’re doing the math, that means they are making it at a 36.7 percent clip, which ranks third overall in the SEC.
The Tigers are second in the SEC behind Tennessee in points per game at 84.3 and are averaging 11.1 3-pointers made per game, by far the highest in the SEC.
Last season, Auburn led the conference in 3-pointers made per game (9.8) and 3-pointers attempted per game (27). As a team in 2017-18, Auburn hit 312 total 3-pointers, and is on track to shatter that mark this year.
Individually, Auburn guard Bryce Brown has been an absolute assassin from behind the 3-point line. Already this season he has hit 71 3s on 177 attempts, good for 40.1 percent from behind the arc. His 71 makes are tops in the SEC.
Guard Jared Harper is no slouch, either. He ranks fifth in the SEC with 52 3-pointers made and is shooting 38.5 percent from long distance. Guards Malik Dunbar and Samir Doughty have gotten in on the fun as well, with Dunbar tallying 26 makes of his own and Doughty chipping in 24.
When the Tigers and Tide tangle on Saturday, whether or not Alabama can defend Auburn’s 3-point barrage could be the key to the game. Last year, Auburn hit 12 3s against Alabama at home en route to a 90-71 victory. In contrast, Auburn shot only 21 percent from behind the arc (7-32) when it was bounced from the NCAA tournament by Clemson last March.
Three-pointers account for more than 39 percent of Auburn’s offense, which means that it can often be feast or famine for the Tigers. And it will be interesting to see which it is for the Tigers against the Tide on Saturday. H&A
Cover photo: Jared Harper courtesy Auburn Athletics