Auburn already faced a tough test with its win in Houston. Now the No. 4 Tigers will face No. 5 Iowa State when they open the 2024 Maui Invitational on Monday night.

Bruce Pearl knows exactly what awaits his team against the Cyclones.

“Iowa State is a great defensive team,” he said. “They are as good analytically and defensively as anyone. They force turnovers.”

Auburn’s guards will be going up against what their coach considers to be the best defensive backcourt in the country, but those two guards – Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey – also score with threats. Lipsey is second on the team with an average of 13.7 points per game, while Gilbert is right behind him with 12.3. The frightening thing about it? Another guard, Curtis Jones, is the leader with 15 points per game.

But back to sales. Pearl mentions that the Cyclones give you one out of four possessions, and once they get the ball, you have to go back on defense or pay the price.

“The second most important thing, in my opinion, would be transition,” Pearl said. “They have absolutely elite finishers in transition. So when they get the advantage and things go downhill, these guys score and get fouled at a very high rate. Those will be some of our biggest challenges.”

How does Auburn attack the Cyclones? By doing what they have done so far this season.

“I think we shot it pretty well,” Pearl said. “I think we were a pretty good inside-out team. The high support and turnover rate speaks for our selflessness.”

What the Tigers still need to improve on, especially in games against top competition, is charity.

“We can do a better job of getting to the foul line and we need to continue to be a good free throw team and that will be a big thing in winning close games,” Pearl said. “We beat Houston. And one of the things that’s kind of overlooked, I don’t want to say, but Tahaad (Pettiford) made big shots, and we made our last six free throws, and that’s what you have to do.” Of course, everything else to do.”

The Tigers and Cyclones kick off at 8:00 p.m. CT on ESPNU.