Auburn Tigers
SEC (26-9, 11-7)
Like many teams in the SEC, the Tigers had a strong non-conference showing before settling into more average play during conference play. For the most part the Tigers beat the teams they should beat, especially at home, and lost to the tougher teams on their schedule. They will need to find a way to pull off some more upsets if they hope to make a run into the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Big Wins: 11/9 Washington (88-66), 3/2 Mississippi State (80-75), 3/9 Tennessee (84-80)
Bad Losses: 12/19 at NC State (71-78), 1/22 at South Carolina (77-80), 2/13 Mississippi (55-60)
Coach: Bruce Pearl
Why They Can Surprise:
This is an Auburn team that has a flair for the dramatic. They are a fun team to watch since they can block shots, create turnovers and drain a ton of three-pointers. Bryce Brown and Jared Harper are the main shooting threats. Those two combine to average 31.1 points per game and have made 204 three-pointers on the year. Chuma Okeke is an athletic power forward who can knock down some three-pointers too. But he is also a huge reason for the impressive defensive statistics. On top of his 11.6 points and 6.6 rebounds, Okeke also averages 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks. Austin Wiley and Anfernee McLemore are solid shot blockers as well and the Tigers almost always have two shot blockers on the floor.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Auburn is willing to take some risks on the defensive end and that normally turns out quite well. The risks on the other end of the floor can lead to turnover issues. The Tigers will almost always win the turnover battle, but it would be helpful if the team can keep the turnovers down. Harper is a fine point guard and has an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio, but against tough perimeter defenders it will be up to him to give Auburn as many possessions over the opposition as possible.
Probable Starters:
Jared Harper, Junior, Guard, 15.4 ppg, 5.8 apg
Bryce Brown, Senior, Guard, 15.7 ppg, 1.9 apg
Malik Dunbar, Senior, Guard, 6.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Anfernee McLemore, Junior, Forward, 6.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg
Chuma Okeke, Sophomore, Forward, 11.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg
Key Role Players:
Danjel Purifoy, Junior, Forward, 2.9 ppg
Samir Doughty, Junior, Guard, 7.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Horace Spencer, Senior, Forward, 4.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 80.1 (32nd in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 68.5 (96, 5)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.9 (155, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.8 (112, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 11.1 (6, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.5 (41, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.5 (178, 8)
Rebound Margin: 01 (193, 11)
Assists Per Game: 14.7 (77, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.6 (132, 3)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Charleston |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Clemson |
| 2009 | NIT | First Round win over Tennessee-Martin |
| 2009 | NIT | Second Round win over Tulsa |
| 2009 | NIT | Quarterfinal loss to Baylor |
| 2003 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over St. Joseph's |
| 2003 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Wake Forest |
| 2003 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Syracuse |
| 2001 | NIT | First Round win over Miami |
| 2001 | NIT | Second Round loss to Purdue |
| 2000 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Creighton |
| 2000 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Iowa State |
| 1999 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Winthrop |
| 1999 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Oklahoma State |
| 1999 | NCAA | Regional semifinal loss to Ohio State |
*all team stats through 3/10
