No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Alabama showdown: Four Auburn basketball stats of note, and why they're significant

Auburn and Alabama didnt get to where they are right now on accident.

The two top teams in the AP Poll are posting historic numbers on offense while doing enough on defense to win every game theyve played in conference play outside of one loss for each team.

And while both teams are highly ranked and are great in various different areas, both teams have holes that the other team could potentially exploit.

Here are four stats and why they are significant for Auburns game against Alabama and beyond.

This number represents Chad Baker Mazaras field goal percentage in Auburns last seven games.

Thats obviously not going to cut it.

Now, its worth noting that Baker-Mazara is a bit banged up which is why Chris Moore started over him against Vanderbilt.

That said, for most of the season, Baker-Mazara has been Auburns second best player and its best tough shot maker.

And while Baker-Mazara has found other ways to contribute, mainly through his defending and passing, Auburn needs his shot making, and as he gets healthier, it should start to come back.

Chad is just flat out banged up and has been limited in practice because of just not being able to get reps, said Bruce Pearl after Auburns win over Vanderbilt.

He gets bounced around pretty good, all of 180 pounds.

And so, I was glad he was able to go.

He played great defense in the second half and passed the ball really well too.

So, we just gotta get him a little rest and get him healthy.

This represents Chaney Johnsons points and field goal percentage against Vanderbilt, which includes a personal 9-0 run that gave Auburn a lead itd never relinquish.

And considering the situation, it might have been Johnsons best game as a Tiger.

Shots were just falling, Johnson said.

I don't think anything got into me.

I just work hard, and I trust the work.

I trust in God, and He's put me in the right place in the right time.

Hopefully I can top nine out of 10.

It's going to be hard.

Hopefully, at 'Bama, I can top it.

And while topping that seems like a tough ask, Alabama has allowed players similarly built to Johnson torch it this year.

KeShawn Murphy had 18 points for Mississippi State.

Adou Thiero had 22 points.

Jayson Kent had 24.

And if you ask Pearl, hed say performances like that will become more of a frequent occurrence for Johnson.

I say you've not seen the best of Chaney Johnson yet, and you still haven't seen the best of him, Pearl said.

It's just work in the lab.

Nobody's in the gym more.

He's out there with Ira Bowman and Marquis and some of our guys just work, perfecting his craft.

He's in here every night.

Nobody deserves it more than Chaney Johnson.

This represents the amount of points Auburn allowed Vanderbilt to score in the final 14:14 of game play on Tuesday.

After allowing an average of 79 points in the four games prior, Auburn was able to hold Vanderbilt to just 68.

Over the past few games I feel like we've slacked a little bit, said Denver Jones regarding Auburns defense.

The Vandy game, I feel like we got that edge back a little bit.

I feel like us being able to lock in on defense and listen to our game plan is going to be the key to us winning.

The defensive edge came back at a great time as the Tigers will be facing the most efficient offense in the country that isnt themselves in Alabama.

And while Auburn has leaned on its explosive offense all season, Pearl and his team know that defense is what will decide who wins the SEC come March.

I think coming down the stretch now, defense and rebounding wins championships, Pearl said.

And were playing for championships now.

This number represents how many more rebounds Vanderbilt had than Auburn on Tuesday.

Now, it didnt end up mattering in the end, but considering that Auburn had a pretty decent size advantage on the Commodores, there really isnt an excuse for that.

Additionally, 16 of those rebounds were offensive, and Alabama, Auburns next opponent, has an offensive rebound rate ranked in the top 15 nationally.

And although the battle on the glass was tied against Florida, Auburn feels like the Gators were the tougher team in that regard, and it felt that way after playing Vanderbilt, and even though Auburn won, it knows it wont get away with that in Tuscaloosa.

The tougher team is going to always win, Johnsons said.

The more focused team is going to always win.

The more hungry team is going to always win.

I feel like that happened in the Florida game, and it was the reason why we lost.

We weren't the tougher team, and we weren't the more excited team to play.

And, I mean, we kinda got away with not doing that at Vanderbilt.

But, to beat Alabama, we're going to have to be the tougher team.

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