Why Auburn Basketball Fans Should Expect a Winner This Season
We are less than a month away from the start of Auburn basketball season, and fans have a reason to be excited about the upcoming season.
Auburn basketball has slowly transformed under Bruce Pearl, but expectations should be heightened this year.
The past two seasons Auburn basketball has combined to go 26-40 (9-27). Those certainly aren’t pretty numbers, but the wait is over for Auburn fans as this year’s team is ready to win.
Bruce Pearl has been bringing in a lot of great talent that should instantly make Auburn a contender in the SEC.
Unlike football or baseball, it only takes one great player to make a team relevant in basketball.
Newcomers Danjel Purifoy, Mustapha Heron and Jared Harper have the ability to turn Auburn basketball into a contender.
When you combine those freshman with guys like Horace Spencer – who had a break-out year last season – as well as Bryce Brown, TJ Lang and T.J. Dunans, this team has the talent to win close to 20 games.
I really thought Auburn had a chance to compete last season, but they were devastated by injuries and the delay of Purifoy’s eligibility by the NCAA.
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Everyone seems good to go heading into the start of the season, and I expect to see a much better product on the court.
During an intrasquad scrimmage at the beginning of October Dunans scored 36 points, LaRon Smith had 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Purifoy and Heron each had 22 points.
I know it’s just a team scrimmage, but it’s good to see that those are the guys who are stepping up for Auburn basketball.
After taking Tennessee to seven straight NCAA Tournaments, it’s been quite a struggle at Auburn for Bruce Pearl.
I’m not sure this is the season we see Auburn snap its 13-year drought of making the NCAA Tournament, but I think it will definitely set Auburn basketball up for a long run of success.
Look for Auburn basketball to be a much more competitive team in 2016-17, and I would not be surprised if they finished with close to 20 wins. And with their difficult out-of-conference schedule, if they come away with a few upsets we could be dancing come March.
War Eagle!
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