Preseason awards and predictions

[Dunndone414 469]

Somehow preseason predictions have already started, probably makes sense to start a new thread. 
 

Dick Vitale has Johni Broome listed as a first team all-American. (!?!)

[WDE_OxPx_2010 5,318]

6 hours ago, Dunndone414 said:

Somehow preseason predictions have already started, probably makes sense to start a new thread. 
 

Dick Vitale has Johni Broome listed as a first team all-American. (!?!)

WOW. that's quite the leap for JB. Here's to hoping

[toddc 13,194]

ESPN's Dick Vitale selects Auburn's Johni Broome as preseason All-American

One of the most prestigious names in the college basketball media landscape sees a potential All-American on the Plains this coming season.

In a preseason All-American team he released Thursday, ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale gave Auburn forward Johni Broome a first-team nod. It put Broome alongside Purdue's Zach Edey, North Carolina's Armando Bacot, Marquette's Tyler Kolek and Northwestern's Boo Buie.

Edey was named last year's National College Player of the Year, and both Bacot and Kolek have previously garnered All-American nods. Vitale's second and third teams included two other Southeastern Conference players in Texas A&M's Wade Taylor IV (second team) and Mississippi State's Tolu Smith (third team).

Dick Vitale's 2023-24 Preseason All-American Teams

First team

Zach Edey, Purdue Boilermakers

Armando Bacot, North Carolina Tar Heels

Johni Broome, Auburn Tigers

Tyler Kolek, Marquette Golden Eagles

Boo Buie, Northwestern Wildcats

Second team

Hunter Dickinson, Kansas Jayhawks

Dillon Jones, Weber State Wildcats

DaRon Holmes II, Dayton Flyers

Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois Fighting Illini

Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M Aggies

Third team

Kyle Filipowski, Duke Blue Devils

Adem Bona, UCLA Bruins

Tolu Smith, Mississippi State Bulldogs

Tyson Walker, Michigan State Spartans

Max Abmas, Texas Longhorns

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"Bruce Pearl puts together solid teams annually and Johni Broome looks to lead the Auburn Tigers on a deep NCAA run after they surrendered a 10-point halftime lead in a second-round loss to Houston in the Big Dance," Vitale wrote. "He's a powerful inside player capable of averaging a double-double just like he did during his sophomore campaign."

Broome's All-American nod from Dickie V comes after an impressive sophomore season and an offseason in which he garnered considerable NBA Draft hype.

Broome led Auburn in both points (14.2) and rebounds (8.4) per game while blocking 78 shots and shooting 52.1% from the field. His first year with the program also saw him generate a career high in 3-point attempts, with 31. He shot 29% from beyond the arc.

After declaring for the NBA Draft and receiving an invitation to the G League Elite Camp in May, Broome scored 40 points across two scrimmages and was one of eight camp members to land an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine.

“Johni definitely helped himself and clearly does the things that he does," Pearl said in May. "He’s able to score, he played physically, he has high basketball IQ and the things he needs to continue to work on: his defense, his rim protection, rebounding out of his area, that’ll be — we’ll see that again."

Broome officially announced he'd be withdrawing from the draft and returning to Auburn on May 29, and as early as it is, he's clearly garnering hype from as least one impressive source.

[arktiger1975 542]

We have earned Vitale's respect in recent years. Quite the 180 from the way it used to be from him!

[mustache eagle 2,415]

On 8/3/2023 at 1:36 PM, Dunndone414 said:

Somehow preseason predictions have already started, probably makes sense to start a new thread. 
 

Dick Vitale has Johni Broome listed as a first team all-American. (!?!)

I think JB has upside … 1st teamer would be quite the improvement.

JB will need to play with more of an edge and absolutely has to be more aggressive around the basket.  Like last year, I think our ceiling goes through him.

[SumterAubie 3,031]

I've always thought of Vitale as an asshat, but he does know basketball.

[KansasTiger 3,256]

Gonna have to learn how to hit a foul shot...

[arktiger1975 542]

21 hours ago, SumterAubie said:

I've always thought of Vitale as an asshat, but he does know basketball.

I agree. He has sh--ed on Auburn for years.

[AUpreacherman22 3,891]

On 8/6/2023 at 11:56 AM, mustache eagle said:

I think JB has upside … 1st teamer would be quite the improvement.

JB will need to play with more of an edge and absolutely has to be more aggressive around the basket.  Like last year, I think our ceiling goes through him.

I agree with your assessment on JB.  
This year he will have more help from the 2 and 3.  And that will make a big impact on our ceiling!  
I think we’ll be worse on defense in Nov/Dec, but by the time March rolls around we should have a pretty good defense.   I have higher expectations this year than I’ve had in a while 

[arktiger1975 542]

13 hours ago, AUpreacherman22 said:

I agree with your assessment on JB.  
This year he will have more help from the 2 and 3.  And that will make a big impact on our ceiling!  
I think we’ll be worse on defense in Nov/Dec, but by the time March rolls around we should have a pretty good defense.   I have higher expectations this year than I’ve had in a while 

The team's ceiling is definitely higher this year. Probably the highest it has been since the Final Four team in 2019. Significant upgrades at the guard position is the primary reason