NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga, Houston lead in updated way-too-early top 25 ranking
By Joey Loose
16. Auburn
Above all, next season is going to look wildly different at Auburn, losing both Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler after the pair of big men had impressive seasons for the Tigers. After bowing out less than gracefully in the second round, the Tigers will hope that the offseason reload of talent will allow them to compete for another SEC title sooner rather than later.
Replacing those stars won’t be easy, but landing 5-star center Yohan Traore goes a long way to filling the gaps. Bruce Pearl also landed Morehead State transfer Johni Broome, a talented forward who averaged a double-double last season for the Eagles. Pair these new big men with KD Johnson and Wendell Green, a pair of talented guards returning for their junior years, and Auburn just might have something special on this roster again.
Guard play will be important for Auburn after some struggles last season, especially since they don’t have the talent and experience down low to cover that up. Still, Broome and Traore will have an impact in that interior offense and defense, but the Tigers won’t be one of the nation’s best teams again this season. Still, we should see the Tigers competing for that SEC crown and in the NCAA Tournament again at the very least.