Auburn Tigers
2014-2015 Record: 15-20 (4-14, SEC)
Postseason: None
Auburn struggled most of last season, only winning four games in the SEC.
However, in the conference tournament, Auburn surprised many and reached the semifinals knocking off tournament team LSU in an overtime thriller.
This late season run, and a great 2015 recruiting class, has fueled greater expectations in the second year of the Bruce Pearl-era.
But what are reasonable expectations for this squad? NIT? NCAA bubble?
The most pressing question from a basketball standpoint is how will the Tigers replace the scoring from departed guard KT Harrell (18.5 ppg)?
Check out below to see who will need to step up and what non-conference match-ups Auburn will need to win to begin having a conversation about the NCAA tournament in 2015-16.
Newcomers
F – Danjel Purifoy (#69 nationally, according to Rivals)
F – Horace Spencer (#71 nationally, according to Rivals)
G – New Williams
G – Bryce Brown
F – Alex Hicks
C – Trayvon Reed
G – T.J. Dunans (junior college transfer)
G – Kareem Canty (transfer from Marshall, 16.3 ppg)
F – Tyler Harris (transfer from Providence, 9.9 ppg)
Key Non-Conference Games
Nov. 13 vs UAB – According to Bruce Pearl, Auburn should be looked at as the underdog in this game. That is hard not to argue, as UAB returns all five starters from a team that pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tourney over three-seeded Iowa State.
South Bound & Down
You have to expect that type of formula (rebounding and slowing the pace) for the Blazers in their opening game against the Tigers.
This should be a great litmus test for Auburn. The pressure is on UAB to keep the momentum rolling. Expect this one to be close with Auburn potentially with a shot to win in the second half.
Dec. 19 at Xavier – The Tigers will take a visit to Cincinnati near Christmas to play a road game against one of the top teams in the Big East.
Xavier, a tournament team last season, returns three starters and will compete again for a tournament at-large bid.
Auburn will need to stop 6’6″ forward Trevor Bluitt, who was named one of the top 100 players in college basketball and 6’10” forward/center Jalen Reynolds who projects to lead Xavier in scoring.
Xavier always plays a big, tough and physical brand of basketball and expect this game to be no different.
A win by the Tigers here will mean they are serious about making an NCAA tournament run.
Key Players
Tyler Harris – The graduate transfer from Providence was one of the most sought after fifth-year players in the country during the summer. He will be charged with improving and providing stability to Auburn’s frontcourt.
Harris will provide a little bit of everything this season: leadership, scoring, slashing, rebounding and shooting from outside.
T.J. Dunans – Another transfer, Dunans comes from the junior college ranks. He will provide instant scoring this season.
Graduated senior KT Harrell’s 18.5 points per game will be difficult to replace, but Dunans was brought in to be that replacement.
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- Auburn Basketball: 2024 commit Tahaad Pettiford sets up future backcourt
- Auburn Basketball: 2022-23 season preview and outlook for Tigers
Season Outlook
Auburn is one of the toughest teams to predict in the SEC conference. With nine new players and their leading scorer moving on, it would be easy to dismiss the Tigers.
However, that’s what everyone did in the SEC Tournament last season and the Tigers advanced to the semi-finals.
Expect the Tigers to be much improved this season. An NIT-bid seems like an obtainable goal with an NCAA tournament appearance grounds for a parade in the streets of Auburn, AL.
It is not that the Tigers are not talented, but one would have to look in awe at the timeline of Pearl’s re-building project should the Tigers make the field of 68.
All things considered, things are looking up both this season and beyond for the Auburn Tigers.