We've got to get better on defense period to win at the highest levels. We can't defend a single, high pick and roll. There was one play last night where the ball handler turned the corner off a high ball screen, went all the way to the basket unimpeded, and dunked the ball. He started at the top of the key! At this level, that is ridiculous. In crunch time Saturday, Auburn picked us apart with just a single, high, center pick and roll.
Somebody posted there has been no national champion in the last 25 years or so who was outside the top 25 in defensive efficiency. We are currently 46 on KenPom. We never make anyone uncomfortable on offense, never take away primary options. There's never a game where you say Bama took away the other team's primary option and made them go to plan B. We either are not coached that way or we're not capable. This is a common theme. Remember, Bama gave up 117 last year to Kentucky on the road in a very similar game.
The real troubling thing right now is looking at the standings, Bama is 9-0 against the bottom nine in the SEC and 1-3 against the top six. In our last five conference games, we have four against the top six. It may be we are just not that good relative to the top teams because of our defense. We were fortunate that the first half of the conference schedule was loaded with the bottom of the conference teams. Now, this huge deficiency is getting exposed. It was always there because even the lesser teams are more efficient on offense than their average against us, but it ends up in L's against the better teams.