I've noticed that we are getting mentioned more often by national folks. Looks like people are starting to realize what a lot of us thought going into the season: This Auburn hoops team is just a really good TEAM. Obviously what happens in December doesn't matter (we learned in 2021 that you have to be good going into February and March), but it is still nice to see a lot of people coming around to the roster and style of play Bruce has assembled. I think the #1 characteristic that makes this team work is UNSELFISHNESS. You have to push down your ego a bit when you have a 10-11 man rotation and no one playing more than 23 minutes. And the fact that we are 5th nationally in assist percentage says a lot. You also have to be unselfish to play great team defense like we are. There are some serious battles coming up in SEC play (opening up @Arkansas will be a great opportunity), but you have to love how things are going so far (even with the App State loss).
Rob Dauster from Field of 68 picked us to make the Final Four (note that one of their "rules" was to pick an unranked teaml, so we were kind of an obvious choice).
We've been in Gary Parrish's top 25 for a while on CBS Sports, but are now 17th in David Cobb's Power Rankings
www.cbssports.com
ESPN is praising Aden Holloway in its review of highly ranked 2023 recruit.
www.espn.com
And The Athletic has us all the way up at 11th in their Power Rankings. I think their full comments are worth reading too (copied and pasted for those without a subscription):
theathletic.com
Holiday wish: An extra basketball. You know, since there’s only one ball and the Tigers (fifth nationally in assist percentage) have been so good all year about sharing it. Bruce Pearl predicted before the season exactly what kind of team he’d have: maybe a couple of All-SEC caliber players in McDonald’s All-American freshman Aden Holloway and fourth-year college starter Johni Broome, but not an overwhelming level of talent. No, their secret sauce would be the sheer volume of competent hoopers. “The bad thing is when the ball gets tossed, our five guys may not be that much better than anybody else’s five guys,” Pearl said at the league’s media day. “But when I go to the bench, I’m not dropping off. We will have a 10-man rotation.”
And he absolutely does. These Tigers are winning with depth: 10 guys averaging at least 15 minutes per game, none more than 23 minutes, nine of them averaging at least one assist, eight averaging five-plus points, seven who have made at least four 3-pointers this season. Broome leads them in points (14.7), rebounds (8.0) and blocks (1.6); Holloway leads them in assists (3.6) and made 3s (25) while shooting 40 percent from deep. Everyone else is really just a willing, winning role player. Broome’s backup, Dylan Cardwell, went for 11 points, five boards, three steals, two blocks and two assists in just 17 minutes against USC. He averages 13 points, 10 boards, 3 blocks per 40. He’s probably a starter somewhere else, but he’s the sledgehammer Pearl can sub in any time he needs one.
That’s how a team not loaded with draft picks is top-20 nationally in offensive and defensive efficiency and top-10 overall at KenPom, with wins over Notre Dame by 24, Virginia Tech by 17, Indiana by 28 and USC by 16. Other than the margin of victory, none of those constitutes a “wow” win, but there are plenty of chances coming in SEC play, which starts at Arkansas on Jan. 6. – Tucker
Rob Dauster from Field of 68 picked us to make the Final Four (note that one of their "rules" was to pick an unranked teaml, so we were kind of an obvious choice).
We've been in Gary Parrish's top 25 for a while on CBS Sports, but are now 17th in David Cobb's Power Rankings
College basketball power rankings: Providence enters after beating Marquette as Big East brings early chaos
The Friars are making their first appearance in the CBS Sports power rankings
www.cbssports.com
ESPN is praising Aden Holloway in its review of highly ranked 2023 recruit.
First-year report card: Who's thriving, who's surprising, who's waiting to shine?
From Isaiah Collier to Garrett Johnson, we take stock of the class of 2023, including the successes, the injury-impacted and the ones waiting their turn in the spotlight.
And The Athletic has us all the way up at 11th in their Power Rankings. I think their full comments are worth reading too (copied and pasted for those without a subscription):
Men's college basketball power rankings: Memphis is seasoned and sizzling
Purdue's the easy choice for No. 1. After that, it gets complicated.
theathletic.com
11. Auburn (8-2)
Last week: NRHoliday wish: An extra basketball. You know, since there’s only one ball and the Tigers (fifth nationally in assist percentage) have been so good all year about sharing it. Bruce Pearl predicted before the season exactly what kind of team he’d have: maybe a couple of All-SEC caliber players in McDonald’s All-American freshman Aden Holloway and fourth-year college starter Johni Broome, but not an overwhelming level of talent. No, their secret sauce would be the sheer volume of competent hoopers. “The bad thing is when the ball gets tossed, our five guys may not be that much better than anybody else’s five guys,” Pearl said at the league’s media day. “But when I go to the bench, I’m not dropping off. We will have a 10-man rotation.”
And he absolutely does. These Tigers are winning with depth: 10 guys averaging at least 15 minutes per game, none more than 23 minutes, nine of them averaging at least one assist, eight averaging five-plus points, seven who have made at least four 3-pointers this season. Broome leads them in points (14.7), rebounds (8.0) and blocks (1.6); Holloway leads them in assists (3.6) and made 3s (25) while shooting 40 percent from deep. Everyone else is really just a willing, winning role player. Broome’s backup, Dylan Cardwell, went for 11 points, five boards, three steals, two blocks and two assists in just 17 minutes against USC. He averages 13 points, 10 boards, 3 blocks per 40. He’s probably a starter somewhere else, but he’s the sledgehammer Pearl can sub in any time he needs one.
That’s how a team not loaded with draft picks is top-20 nationally in offensive and defensive efficiency and top-10 overall at KenPom, with wins over Notre Dame by 24, Virginia Tech by 17, Indiana by 28 and USC by 16. Other than the margin of victory, none of those constitutes a “wow” win, but there are plenty of chances coming in SEC play, which starts at Arkansas on Jan. 6. – Tucker
