SEC Basketball Preview: #5 Auburn Tigers
By Jacob Rude
2013-14 Season Results: 14-16, 6-12 SEC, 14th in SEC, 74-56 loss to South Carolina in first round of SEC Tournament
Key Losses: Chris Denson, Allen Payne, Asauhn Dixon-Tatum
Key Returnees: K.T. Harrell, Tahj Shamsid-Deen
2014 Recruiting Class: Trayvon Reed (#68 overall), Jack Purchase (#53 Power Forward), T.J. Lang (unranked)
Rankings based on ESPN
Call me crazy, but there is some rational behind this prediction. The biggest one is Bruce Pearl, though. Since officially joining the Tigers, all Pearl has done is piece together a top ten recruiting class with high level recruits and some of the more sought after transfer-eligible players.
He’s brought an excitement back to an Auburn program that hasn’t been to the NCAA tournament in over a decade and has made the Big Dance just three times since 1988-89.
On top of that, Pearl is one hell of a coach, as well.
Auburn has to replace some big numbers last year, losing 50.6% of their scoring from last season. However, they do return Harrell, a 6’4″ guard who is the top returning scorer in the SEC from last season having averaged 18.3 points a game.
Joining him as one of the top players is transfer Antoine Mason, who will join the Tigers this season after transferring from Niagara. Mason will be immediately eligible since he graduated from Niagara, bringing with him a 25.6 point per game average last season. The duo will be Pearl’s best weapons this season, and could make Auburn a dangerous program.
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Joining Mason as incoming transfers include both K.C. Ross-Miller and Cinmeon Bowers, both eligible to play this year. Bowers was considered by many to be the #1 junior college prospect, averaging 11.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last year and brings some much needed size to the Auburn front line. Due to the barren nature of the Tigers front court, Bowers will likely step in as an immediate starter.
Ross-Miller averaged 8.3 points and 3.5 assists per contest at New Mexico State last season before graduating and joining the Auburn program. As a 6’1″ point guard, Ross-Miller could come in and take over the starting point guard spot. However, the incumbent Shamsid-Deen likely won’t be all that willing to give it up, having averaged 9.5 points and 2.9 rebounds himself last season.
All three transfers could see the starting lineup with Harrell, leaving the fifth and final spot a question mark. Incoming freshman Trayvon Reed could take the spot, but he is sorting out legal issues that led to him being kicked off Maryland’s team earlier this summer. Reed will likely be eligible to play come December, but until then Pearl will be forced to use a platoon of big men.
Matthew Atewe is the most natural fit to the center role, standing at 6’8″. While not the scorer, he did grab 3.4 rebounds a night in 24 contests last year while also blocking 1.1 shots a night, possibly giving the Tigers a legitimate defensive presence. Junior Jordan Granger and freshman Jack Purchase are likely to see minutes there as well as Bowers until Reed joins the team.
Pearl certainly has the weapons to make noise this season, and a lot will fall on whether he can push the right buttons to get his team focused and cohesive. There’s a lot of questions surrounding the Tigers, but Pearl seems like the guy who can make it all work, and if he can, Auburn may finally get it’s trip back to the Big Dance this season.