Auburn men’s basketball’s Tuesday night matchup with Vanderbilt came in a potentially treacherous spot for the Tigers.

Auburn was coming off its first loss since early December, and had to play a dangerous Vanderbilt team in the always tough Memorial Gymnasium one game before a No. 1 versus No. 2 game against Alabama.

The Tigers avoided the potential trap game, winning 80-68 and keeping excitement for Saturday’s game high as ever. Not only that, the win put the group back on track after a loss to Florida days earlier, and taught head coach Bruce Pearl more about what it takes for the team to operate at its best.

“I learned that when we are locked in and flying around and engaged defensively, we could be pretty good,” Pearl said when speaking to reporters Thursday. “When we’re setting back on our heels and not playing and defending as physically and as intensely and as alertly, we’re vulnerable.”

Both of Auburn’s two losses this season have largely been due to subpar defense.

Against Duke, Pearl said his group didn’t “bother” the Blue Devils enough defensively, resulting in Auburn’s first loss and what was at the time the most points the Tigers had given up this season.

The Florida game was similar, as Auburn gave up a season-high 90 points and allowed big performances from Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh and Walter Clayton Jr.

Clayton was especially effective, finishing with 19 points, nine assists and four 3-pointers. Pearl said after the game that the gameplan was to get the ball out of his hands, but said, “after the first couple possessions, you would never know that that was our game plan.”

When asked why Auburn was ineffective in that gameplan, Pearl’s response was telling.

“It just required multiple effort,” Pearl said, “And we just didn’t give it.”

Against Vanderbilt, the effort was better. The Tigers held the Commodores to 41.9% shooting from the field and 3-for-17 from 3-point range, while also scoring 19 points off 12 Vanderbilt turnovers.

Saturday’s game, though, will likely require Auburn’s best defensive effort of the season.

Alabama ranks second in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom, and plays with the second-fastest tempo in the country. The average Crimson Tide possession lasts just 15 seconds, and its points come almost exclusively at the rim, from the free throw line or from 3-point range.

Alabama’s 2-point percentage (60.8%) ranks second in the country, and the Crimson Tide leads the Southeastern Conference in 3-point attempts per game (29.8).

Arguably the biggest area where effort will be key is on the glass. Defensive rebounding has been an issue for Auburn at times, giving up 16 offensive boards to a relatively small Vanderbilt team.

“The tougher team is going to always win. 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,” Auburn forward Chaney Johnson said Thursday. “We kinda got away with not doing that at Vanderbilt. But, to beat Alabama, we’re going to have to be the tougher team.”

Alabama’s offensive rebounding percentage ranks 15th in the country and often creates open 3-point looks on extra possessions.

One of the turning points in Auburn’s loss to Florida was a moment where Haugh grabbed two offensive rebounds for the Gators on one possession, with the second one leading to an open 3-pointer that halted a late Auburn run and felt like the dagger.

Alabama thrives off those kinds of opportunities and effort on the defensive glass will be critical to limit possessions and clean looks.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m