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Auburn Basketball: Breaking down why Tigers are so special in 2021-22 season

By Caleb Hightower

Dec 4, 2021; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Chris Moore (5) and players on the bench react to a late 3-point shot late in the second half against the Yale Bulldogs at Auburn Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2021; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Chris Moore (5) and players on the bench react to a late 3-point shot late in the second half against the Yale Bulldogs at Auburn Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /
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Auburn Basketball forward Jabari Smith Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn Basketball forward Jabari Smith Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Big-time production from Jabari Smith

Coming out of high school, Jabari Smith was ranked as the 6th best player in the country by ESPN and held offers from Power 5 schools such as LSU, Alabama, and North Carolina. When you’re ranked that high going into college, you should expect high expectations to be placed on you before you complete your first collegiate game (which is when the pressure starts to kick in).

If you’ve watched Smith play at all this season, however, you’ve probably noticed that the Fayetteville, Georgia native has a mature type of game and looks as though he’s already in year 3 or 4 at the high-major level. He knows what comes with playing in the SEC and recognizes that growing up fast typically leads to early success, which explains why Smith has triumphed under Bruce Pearl’s guidance as a freshman.

The 6’10” forward leads the Tigers in scoring (15.7. PPG) and has scored in double-figures 17 times this season. Smith is a tough matchup for anybody because he doesn’t have a limited repertoire offensively. When he successfully boxes out an opponent and pulls down a defensive rebound, he has no problem bringing the ball up the floor and initiating the Tigers’ offense. No, I wouldn’t say that Smith’s handle is at the advanced level right now, but his ability to use his body to shield off defenders in the backcourt helps him get the Tigers into sets without any major hiccups.

In the half-court, Smith can punish defenders who give him too much space to operate/leave him open on the perimeter by showing off his fluid three-point shooting stroke (he’s a 42.3% three-point shooter). Additionally, Smith can easily torch defenders who decide to press up on him by jabbing and making plays in the mid-range area or at the basket. His one to two-dribble pull-up jumper near the free throw line is nearly impossible to defend, due to his impressive combination of height and superb elevation.

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As of right now, Smith is taking 27.4% of Auburn’s shots (ranks first on the team), which shows me that Bruce Pearl believes that Smith can thrive as the Tigers’ number one scoring option. If Smith, Green, Johnson, Green, and Kessler keep playing their individual roles perfectly moving forward, I can assure you that Auburn will be a force to be reckoned with come March.

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