NCAA Basketball: Buy or sell Auburn, Butler, Michigan State, Oregon
By Brian Rauf
Auburn Tigers
Verdict: Buy
Auburn might be the most doubted 21-2 team in recent memory. Much of the conversation surrounding them revolves around the level of competition they’ve played and all the things they can’t do or struggle with on the court.
And some of those concerns are valid. You would like to see a top team play more than two games against teams currently ranked in order to prove they’re legitimately good. Auburn also really struggles when they’re forced to play at a slower pace as it takes away their biggest advantage (athleticism) and highlights their struggles with offensive execution.
But we don’t talk enough about all the things this Auburn team can do and why they’ve been able to win 21 games.
They have an experienced, deep backcourt with three players – Samir Doughty, J’Von McCormick, and Isaac Okoro – capable of taking over the game at any time. When Auburn is able to get out in transition, the quickness of that trio, coupled with their three-point shooting ability, makes them virtually impossible to defend. They’ve also given this team stability and consistency, which only a handful of teams have proven to have this season.
The Tigers aren’t just a perimeter-oriented team, though. Austin Wiley has played like the highly-rated prospect he came to Auburn as and has given them a legitimate post presence on both ends. Danjel Purifoy and Anfernee McLemore help out down there as well.
Yet Auburn’s biggest strengths are their ability to quickly reel off monster runs that can turn a game on its head in a flash along with their ability to close games. The Tigers have trailed by double digits late in the second half in three of their last four games, only to come back and win all three.
Traditionally, teams that make long NCAA Tournament runs do so on the back of quality guard play, solid or better defense, and experience. Auburn checks all three boxes and plays with such consistency that you know what you’re going to get from them on a nightly basis.
Because of that, I’m buying Auburn as a legitimate Final Four contender.