Too many guards at Auburn benefits Arkansas State with Desi Sills pickup
After losing their top guards this offseason, the Auburn Tigers were very busy in the transfer portal. They landed perimeter players in Wendell Green, Zep Jasper, Desi Sills, and most recently, KD Johnson from Georgia.
If you include returning key players such as Devan Cambridge and Allen Flanigan, that’s a ton of depth for the team to deal with. Even if we assume the Tigers will run three-guard lineups, one of those newcomers could every well end up at the bottom of the rotation. And considering that Sills averaged 7.5 ppg on 43% shooting while splitting time between starting and coming off the bench, there was a possibility that the former Arkansas guard is the odd-man-out.
Once Johnson joined the fold, the likelihood of all four transfer guards staying was slim. And it looks as if Sills made his own move, de-committing from Auburn and choosing to go home.
https://twitter.com/desisills3/status/1402328509729574918
Arkansas State has been the definition of a “mid-tier” program in the Sun Belt. They’ve never been awful enough to be at the bottom but not good enough to be near the top, with the last NCAA Tournament appearance coming in 1999. However, this upcoming season will be the best chance the Redwolves have had to make it back there based on the projected roster.
The first point is that senior guard and leading scorer Marquis Eaton (14.2 ppg and 5.2 apg) elected to take the extra year of eligibility from the NCAA to come back for the 2021-22 campaign. Also back is big man and Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Norchad Omier, who averaged 12.6 ppg and 12.3 rpg (3rd nationally last season. The 6’7 forward had 20 rebounds in a game and went for 21 points and 19 rebounds against Texas-Arlington.
The team returns just about all of their rotational pieces from last year but adding Sills could take them over the top. He was a double-digit scorer in the previous year and willingly took a step back as guards Moses Moody and JD Notae took over on the perimeter. But Sills does have 16 career games of at least 15 points, despite never truly being the No. 1 or even 2 offensive option at Arkansas.
Next. WTE SEC Award predictions for 2021-22. dark
The combo of Sills and Eaton, as well as Omier dominating down low, should have Arkansas State finally in contention of the Sun Belt next season. There will be plenty of expectations and teams such as Louisiana Lafayette and South Alabama have reloaded as well. But the addition of Sills could be what tips the Redwolves to being the favorites to win the league.