Tigers, Cougars, a defensive battle

In Wednesday's season opener against Vermont, No. 11 Auburn scored 94 points and shot 56.3 percent from the floor, including 45.7 percent from behind the three-point line, as the Tigers defeated the Catamounts.

Things probably won't be so easy for Bruce Pearl's team on Saturday night when they travel to Houston to face No. 4 Cougars to compete.

“These are two of the best defensive teams in the country, so it could be first through 50th,” Pearl said.

In fact, Houston is the No. 1 defensive team in the RPI rankings, while the Tigers are right behind them in second place.

Similar to Auburn, Houston has an experienced team looking to bring the program its first national title. And like any Kelvin Sampson team, the Cougars are tough, physical and hard to score, especially on the ball screens, which Pearl and the Tigers thrive on.

It's a cause for concern for Auburn's head coach.

“They’re going to put two on the ball and make it really hard,” Pearl said. “But they'll also adapt, and we'll start to take our strengths and harass them there. They’re going to make that adjustment to the guards.”

Unlike Auburn, Sampson's team returns all but one player from last year's squad. Jamal Shead now plays for the Toronto Raptors, but the Cougars replaced him with Milos Uzan, who transferred from Oklahoma. Uzan started in the opening game against Jackson State and had 10 assists, scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds.

The Cougars finished their opener with a 39-25 lead over their opponents, another struggle the Tigers face on Saturday.

“Great rebounding team, great defensive team,” Pearl said. “They win every 50-50 balls. They play right.”

Johni Broome, who lost to Houston in the second round of the NCAA tournament two seasons ago, also knows how important it is to win the battle for the boards.

“They're going to try to out-rebound us and be more physical than us, but we have to be the more excited team to play,” the center said. “We have to bring the energy and be physical, ready to fight.”

The scheduled start time for Auburn and Houston is 8:30 p.m. CT and will air on ESPNU.