Auburn Basketball: 2018-19 Tigers season preview

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 16: Bryce Brown #2 of the Auburn Tigers reacts as they take on the Charleston Cougars in the second half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. The Auburn Tigers won 62-58. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 18: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers talks with Jared Harper #1 as they take on the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 18, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /

Starting Lineup

G – Jared Harper

As one of the most underrated players in the SEC, Harper posted 13.2 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game, and 5.4 assists per game, the third-highest in the SEC, during his sophomore campaign. He earned Second Team All-SEC honors and is Auburn’s second-highest returning scorer. He also led the group in steals with 1.2 steals per game. There’s a whole lot to love about one of the best true point guards in the country.

G – Bryce Brown

Brown averaged 15.9 points per game last season and is the team’s best returning scorer. The senior is the most efficient scorer for Auburn, as he shot north of 40 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc as a junior. Having earned Second Team All-SEC honors last season, Brown could be a First Team candidate if he improves upon his mere 2 rebounds per contest from last year.

F – Daniel Purifoy

Purifoy was ruled ineligible for the entire 2017-18 season due to the school’s ongoing FBI investigation, in which Purifoy was named. Nonetheless, Purifoy is a stud on both ends of the floor. In the 2016-17 season, Purifoy averaged 11.5 points per game while shooting 36 percent from the perimeter. He also posted 1.4 steals per game. Harper, Brown, and Purifoy combine for a terrifying trio that could dominate the SEC.

F – Chuma Okeke

Okeke only saw 21 minutes of floor time last season, but he certainly impressed as a freshman. The Atlanta native posted 7.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest as a 6’8″ stretch-four who shot 2.6 three-pointers per game. If Auburn wants to make a run in March, Okeke needs to be present. In Auburn’s two tournament games in the 2017-18 season, Okeke totaled nine points on 13 field goal attempts while converting on only 1 of his seven shots from beyond the arc.

C – Austin Wiley

Wiley, too, missed the entire 2017-18 season due to involvement in the school’s FBI investigation. The former five-star recruit posted 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in only 18 minutes per game. Wiley could be a dominant post presence this season, but needs to improve from the free throw line, where he shot 49 percent from two seasons ago.

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