11/7/22 Auburn Basketball

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Can Auburn basketball once again contend in a loaded SEC? It starts with guard play.

 

Richard Silva, Montgomery Advertiser

Sun, November 6, 2022 at 9:09 PM·3 min read

 

 

From start to finish, Auburn basketball had arguably its best season under coach Bruce Pearl. The Tigers had their highest win-loss percentage (82.4%) in the Pearl era, were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the first time in program history and earned a regular-season SEC title.

The Tigers didn't go as far in the NCAA Tournament as they did in 2018-19, but the overall accomplishments of last season stand taller than any of the other seven seasons Pearl has had on the Plains. But after losing Jabari Smith Jr. and Walker Kessler to the NBA, can Auburn regroup and once again establish itself as a threat in the SEC and beyond?

The answer to that question begins with the play of Auburn's players in the backcourt, specifically, K.D. Johnson and Wendell Green Jr.

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Johnson, a transfer from Georgia, was the second-leading scorer for the Tigers in 2021-22. He averaged 12.3 points and nearly two steals in 27.8 minutes per game, but his inconsistent shot from 3-point range was the most-glaring issue, hitting just 29.0% from deep and 38.6% from the field.

With presumably more on his plate this season, his efficiency must go up for the Tigers to reach their ceiling, and the same can be said for Green, who also transferred into the program last season.

Green came off the bench for 29 of the 34 games he appeared in 2021-22, but his impact on the offense was felt immediately when he checked in. He finished with 172 assists, 104 more than the next nearest teammate, but his 36.5% field goal percentage left much to be desired.

Standing just 5-foot-11, Green is the stereotypical smaller guard that plays with energy and can get hot at any given moment, but he can also get just as cold. Channeling that energy and being consistent in his second season with the Tigers will be huge for Auburn.

Replacing Smith and Kessler in the frontcourt is where things get dicey for Pearl. The duo combined for 965 of Auburn's 2,660 points last season, and the anchoring defense they provided together is surely something the Tigers will miss.

 

Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl talks with his team from the sideline as Auburn Tigers take on Mississippi Rebels at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022.

It'll take a committee to replace them, but Johni Broome, a transfer from Morehead State, could step in immediately and provide a defensive presence and a real scoring punch. The junior averaged 16.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game last season for the Eagles, and became the second player in Morehead State history to win defensive player of the year for the Ohio Valley Conference. He also set the program's single-season record for blocks with 131.

A younger player with size that could step in and provide an impact immediately is freshman forward Yohan Traore, who is listed at 6-10. Traore was a 5-star recruit and 247Sports had him rated No. 26 nationally in its composite rankings. Originally from France, Traore came to the United States and played basketball for Dream City Christian School in Arizona.

Other SEC schools that offered Traore include Arkansas, LSU and Tennessee. He also heard from the likes of Gonzaga, Houston, Michigan and Kansas before turning them all down in favor of the Tigers.

The SEC is a stacked conference this season. Auburn checked in at No. 15 in the preseason USA TODAY poll, but Kentucky (No. 4), Arkansas (No. 10) and Tennessee (No. 11) all rank above them. Alabama also made the preseason rankings, slotted in at No. 19.

The bottom line is Auburn is going to need someone to step up and fill the void. Whether its Johnson or Green improving their efficiency, or Broome or Traore coming in as newcomers and establishing themselves, Pearl needs a player or two to surpass expectations.

Richard Silva is the Auburn beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter (@rich_silva18).

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Guard play will determine if Auburn basketball can contend in SEC

 

 

 

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Could Auburn Basketball have a Top 5 Recruiting Class in 2024?

Jeremy Robuck

2-3 minutes

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Cam Scott is currently the 14th ranked prospect in the 2024 class according to On3, and Bruce Pearl has him using one of his four official visits to come to the plains. Pearl will also be taking a visit to see Scott this week. The shooting guard is 6’5 and currently plays at Lexington High School in South Carolina.

Below is a warmup dunk that shows Cam’s length and athleticism.

Bruce has a number of other high profile members of the 2024 class officially visiting the Tigers. Can Auburn bring in a top 5 class this year? It’s early, but some believe they can. Here are tweets from a few believers, as well as a list of some of those prospects that include 5 star Jayden Williams, 5 star Airious Bailey, 4 star Peyton Marshall, and 5 star Tahaad Pettiford.

Notice three of those four prospects are from the Georgia area. Geography can be very important to recruiting and Pearl has often said the Atlanta area and the state of Georgia are huge keys to Auburn's recruiting success. Pearl has recruited the state well lately. Jabari Smith, Georgia native, had a solid professional debut last night in Atlanta after nearly being the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Needless to say, Auburn has recruited very well lately, and there’s no reason recruiting shouldn’t continue getting stronger. Auburn’s basketball reputation has transformed and took a major leap last year with the teams long stint at No. 1 in the rankings. 

Recruits know Jabari Smith. Nearly every recruit considering the Tigers has been mentioning it. Pearl has shown that he can make players look great and significantly increase their draft stock. His charisma and coaching style are fun and contagious. Coach Pearl is a big recruiting draw by himself, but Auburn’s success, culture, and commitment to improve facilities are landing them right in the thick of it with 5 stars in the coming years.

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Wendell Green Jr. is top SEC guard and other bold predictions for Auburn basketball

 

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Auburn basketball is in a strange spot as it enters the 2022-23 season. The Tigers won the regular-season SEC title, but lost their two most impactful players to the NBA in Jabari Smith Jr. and Walker Kessler. They also brought in a highly touted recruit in the class of 2022 and return two of their top three scorers.

With a wide range of possibilities, here are five bold predictions for Auburn's season.

Allen Flanigan returns to full strength

Senior wing Allen Flanigan has had a turbulent tenure at Auburn. He busted onto the scene as a sophomore, averaging more than 14 points per game, but injured his right Achilles and missed the start of his junior season. And when he returned, his numbers took a hit, and his field goal percentage fell below 40%. He just wasn't the same player.

But sometimes when a player returns from injury, especially with something as serious as an Achilles, it takes some time to reestablish themselves. Now, more than a year removed from surgery, Flanigan should be back to full strength.

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K.D. Johnson is the team's scoring leader

This isn't as bold, considering he's the highest scorer returning to Auburn from last season, but by virtue of the sheer amount of shots he takes, K.D. Johnson will lead the team in scoring.

With Wendell Green Jr. presumably having to focus on orchestrating the offense, the responsibility of scoring will fall predominantly on Johnson. His efficiency — he shot 38.6% from the field and 29.0% from 3-point range last season — should also be bumped up in his second year with the program. If Auburn is lucky, his poor shooting against Alabama-Hunstville in last week's exhibition will be an exception, not the rule.

Johni Broome is the best defender

With Kessler selected No. 22 overall in the NBA Draft, Auburn lost its best rim protector, and maybe the best rim protector in the country. The Tigers are in desperate need of someone to step up and fill that void, and Moorehead State transfer Johni Broome looks primed to do it.

Broome, who was the defensive player of the year for the Ohio Valley Conference in 2021-22, may not be the rim protector Kessler was, but he should be able to step in and at least supplement the loss. Coach Bruce Pearl did an excellent job identifying a weakness for the Tigers and going out and getting a player who can help to resolve it.

Wendell Green Jr. becomes top SEC guard

Green was tabbed as a second-team, All-SEC guard in the preseason coaches poll, but he could be even higher than that by season's end.

Alabama's Jahvon Quinerly and Arkansas' Nick Smith Jr. will be tough to outduel, but Green has the experience and opportunity to at least end the season in the same breath as them. If his efficiency improves even marginally, his scoring should take a jump up to 14 or 15 points per game. And if he can maintain around a 5:2 assist-to-turnover ratio, like he did last season, there's a chance his name could be discussed among the SEC's best guards.

The Tigers are an early round NCAA Tournament team

Losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed stings, and while it would be a nice story for the Tigers to make it back and surpass last season's team in March, it's just not likely.

The fact of the matter is Auburn doesn't have the star power. Could the Tigers band together and go on a run? Sure, any team can, and Auburn is talented, but to bet that happens would be foolish. If this team reaches the second round again, that should feel like a win.

Richard Silva is the Auburn beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.

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Not gonna do it but waiting on our game thread.  It's an hour before start.  Only 1 man can open it. 

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@Maverick.AUisn't it you that gets us started?