Auburn Basketball: Tigers are a legitimate threat to win the SEC

Auburn basketball is riding a 13-game winning streak and is a serious threat to win the SEC title. Head coach Bruce Pearl has his team in a great position.

Auburn trailed Ole Miss, 45-35, at halftime on the night of Jan 9. However, the Tigers outscored the Rebels, 50-25, in the second half and captured the 85-70 win. The Tigers’ dominant second-half performance illustrated why they are legitimate SEC contenders.

Auburn played excellent on-ball defense and shared the ball on offense. Six players scored in double figures for the Tigers. Balanced scoring and solid depth make Auburn a dangerous opponent and are major factors in the Tigers’ great season so far.

With a 15-1 (3-0 SEC) record, Auburn has been one of the most surprising teams in the country this season. Head coach Bruce Pearl seems to have the program on track in his fourth year at the helm.

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The Tigers resemble some of the successful teams that Pearl has coached in the past. They play aggressive man-to-man defense, they are long and athletic, and they generate fantastic ball movement on offense.

In addition to their similarities to past Pearl squads, the Tigers also make their free throws and block plenty of shots. They are also playing efficiently and excelling on the boards. As a result of this combination, Auburn looks like a team that will vie for the SEC crown.

What does the Tigers personnel look like?

The Tigers have a strong backcourt, which has been a good predictor of tournament success. Point guard Jared Harper is an electric athlete and is great at creating shots for his teammates. Bryce Brown is a streaky shooter but can score in bunches. Sophomore Mustapha Heron is the team’s leading scorer and attacks the basket with ferocity.

The frontcourt is equally strong. Junior forward Desean Murray is an excellent rebounder (7.4 per game) despite being undersized for his position (listed at 6’3″). Sophomore forward Anfernee McLemore is a great athlete with a solid inside-out game. He is shooting 60.5% from the field (37.5% on 3-pointers).

Auburn’s second unit has been great as well. Chuma Okeke, Davion Mitchell, Horace Spencer, and Malik Dunbar are all solid contributors off the bench for the Tigers.

Next: Where is Auburn in our latest Bracketology?

Do the Tigers have any weaknesses that can be exploited?

Yes. The primary concerns that I see for the Tigers are turnovers (13.1 per game), transition defense, and poor shot selection. Fortunately, these are all issues that can be fixed. If the Tigers consistently hustle back on defense and protect the ball on offense, they are tough to beat.

In conclusion, the Tigers’ strengths outweigh their flaws and they are a tough opponent for any team. The rest of the SEC better take notice.

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