Conversations with a legend, and practice with an NBA pro: How Dylan Cardwell became the defender that helped get Auburn past Creighton

LEXINGTON, Ky.

Dylan Cardwell has been playing basketball at Auburn for a long time now.

Five years, to be exact.

He wasnt trying to see that end Saturday night inside Rupp Arena.

It wasnt a crazy statistical game for Cardwell, who finished with six points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks, but he finished plus-24 in the plus-minus statistic, and was Auburns best defender against Creighton star big-man Ryan Kalkbrenner.

It was his performance that helped lead Auburn to an 82-70 win over Creighton in what was a defensive masterclass from the Tigers in the second half.

In addition to the obvious pressure that an NCAA Tournament game presents, especially this being his final crack at it, Cardwell was sent some extra motivation before the game.

Daymeon Fishback sent me a text last night saying he felt like I got snubbed from the all-defensive team for the Naismith, Cardwell said.

Fishback was a standout on Auburns 1999 Sweet 16 team and hes around the program plenty now as an analyst for ESPN.

He just said go prove it tomorrow.

And so my prayer was just to prove it.

I can guard 1 through 5.

I say that with humility.

It took me a while to get here.

Thank God for blessing me to be able to move how I move.

While Cardwells defense on Kalkbrenner is what will headline his defensive performance, Cardwell also was forced to switch onto guards on the perimeter, and as hes done all season, he did so with success.

Its an area of growth his teammates have noticed all season.

He came in different this year, man, said guard Denver Jones about Cardwell.

Obviously, seeing the growth in him is phenomenal.

You dont really see as many guys big guys, especially, at 6-foot-11 out there guarding point guards and doing that great of a job that he does.

You cant really name many guys like Dylan that can go out there and defend point guards 1 through 5.

Thats a very rare ability.

Thats not something Cardwell has always been great at.

Back in 2019, Cardwell told reporters inside Rupp Arena that there was a Peach Jam game where the other team put five guards on the court, and as a result, he chose to sub himself out.

For Cardwell, that was a turning point, and its a big part of why hes become the player he is today.

I always look back at it because now I am where Im at, Cardwell said.

But for me, just confidence.

Ive always been able to guard guards, but I think it just starts with confidence in being on that island.

It took a while for that confidence to build up for Cardwell.

As a matter of fact, up until his junior year of high school, Cardwell wanted to be a gastroenterologist, but a discussion with his Oak Hill teammate Cole Anthony changed that.

Anthony, who currently plays for the Orlando Magic, used to play one-on-one quite a bit with Cardwell while the two attended Oak Hill Academy.

Anthony saw the potential Cardwell had, and he had to make sure Cardwell saw that as well.

He just said, You can be a pro.

You can be an NBA player, Cardwell on what Anthony told him.

And thats the first time Ive been like, alright, I have a chance to make it.

And Ive just been on fire ever since.

After that year, Cardwell transferred to McEachern where he teamed up with Sharife Cooper, and like he did with Anthony, he played Cooper quite a bit one-on-one in order to sharpen his perimeter defense skills.

And as his perimeter defense started to improve, so did his confidence, and now, perimeter defense has gone from a weakness to strength for Cardwell, who is hoping to use that to impress NBA teams.

Some guards can blow by me, but youll see where this ball ends up in the stands, Cardwell said.

Im just excited to continue to showcase to NBA scouts that I can guard 1 through 5.

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