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NCAAB Predictions: Auburn Tigers

· Oct 20 - 4 minutes read

Auburn saw Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft and that leaves the Tigers without two of their four double-digit scorers from a season ago.

After the offense ran through the immensely talented Smith in 2021-22, guards K.D. Johnson and Wendell Green figure to be the headliners this season. Allen Flanigan is another perimeter scorer to keep an eye on while Jaylin Williams is the top returning player in the frontcourt. Auburn got some good news when Flanigan recently returned to practice.

Jabari Smith #10 of the Auburn Tigers shoots against the Miami (Fl) Hurricanes in the first half — Kevin C. Cox - Getty Images - AFP

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Auburn senior guard Allen Flanigan returned to practice this week and Head Coach Bruce Pearl said it’s great to have him back. #WarEagle

— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) October 12, 2022

Transfer Johni Broome was a double-double machine in his two seasons at Morehead State.

A promising season at Auburn ended with the Tigers losing to Texas A&M in the SEC quarterfinals and an upset at the hands of Miami in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Only Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee have better odds to win the national title than Auburn according to the college basketball betting lines.

The Tigers are 15th in the preseason Associated Press national poll, which is fourth among SEC teams.

Auburn Tigers

2021-22 record: 28-6
2021-22 SEC Record: 15-3
Coach: Bruce Pearl
Odds to win national title: +4000

Things will look much different without the 6-foot-10 Smith and 7-foot-1 Walker Kessler taking control in the frontcourt.

There were times when the Tigers were too reliant on Smith so perhaps having more people involved in the offense will prove to be beneficial. Johnson and Green combined for 24,3 points and 3.4 steals per game, and don’t be surprised to see those numbers take a major jump. Green led the team with an average of 5.1 assists per game. Devan Cambridge is another key departure as he transferred to Arizona State after averaging nearly 20 minutes per game as a junior.

Broome, a 6-10 forward, averaged 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds while shooting 56.1% from the field during his two seasons at Morehead State. Ironically, his final season at Morehead State began with a game against Auburn when he finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. His sophomore season ended with a 32-point effort in a loss to nationally ranked Murray State in the Ohio Valley Conference championship game.

Auburn Outlook

Auburn struggled in close games in the second half of the 2021-22 season. The Tigers lost their last five games decided by five points or less so that is something for those who bet online to consider. The Tigers were also 1-2 in overtime games.

There are questions about how the frontcourt will hold up in the talent-laden SEC. However, the backcourt should be among the best in the conference. The confidence gained from a 19-game winning streak that propelled Auburn to the top of the national rankings should help the returning players coming into the season with the belief that they can play with anybody.

Auburn finished 3-8-1 against the college basketball odds over the last 12 games last season and that needs to improve. The Tigers might struggle to play as well as home as they did last season when Auburn went 16-0 at Neville Arena.

The non-conference schedule is hardly the toughest among SEC teams. It could help with the win-loss record, but will it prepare the Tigers for a run at the SEC title?

Broome and Traore averaged 17.7 and 16 points in three games against Israel’s national team in August. Westry also was a double-digit scorer while 6-foot-11 junior Dylan Cardwell was a key inside player during those three contests. He should have a much larger role than when he averaged 3.0 points and 11.5 minutes per game as a sophomore.