Auburn Basketball: 2021-22 season outlook for Tigers
By Nick Andre
It’s a new season ahead for Auburn Basketball. Heading into another tough season in the SEC, head coach Bruce Pearl will make sure his team is prepared and ready for what will be in front of them. After having a postseason ban set on the team for the 2020-21 season, there will hopefully be a new story for Auburn, where they can possibly qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Overview/Departures
It’s always a tough scene when your top players move on from last season. Coach Pearl lost both Sharife Cooper and JT Thor to the 2021 NBA Draft while losing other players in Justin Powell, Jamal Johnson, and Javon Franklin to the transfer portal. It’s safe to say that if the Tigers were fully loaded throughout the season, they could have been more competitive in the SEC. Cooper didn’t suit up for the team until mid-January due to eligibility.
According to Tristan Freeman, Site Expert of Busting Brackets, the Tigers had the sixth-best offseason in the entire NCAA. As Auburn, unfortunately, had to watch players from this past season move on, the team grabbed some big-time transfers and signees in the meantime.
Incoming Freshmen
The one incoming freshman recruit is Jabari Smith Jr from Sandy Creek. With NBA roots already planted in him, Smith is expected to play at a high level wherever he goes. Smith fits right into the category of position-less basketball with his ability to play inside and out. He can either play with his back to the basket or become a stretch big and space the floor.
The only knock that anyone can place on Smith could be his frame and inability to play through contact. A little more time in the weight room could benefit him tremendously when being matched up against physical players.