Well Bunker family, that wasn’t the result most expected yesterday, but Auburn basketball’s season is now over and Bruce and company have some tough decisions to make as the transition from one season to the next begins today. There is no doubt that this team accomplished goals and had moments of pure joy such as winning the SEC tournament, but I can’t imagine this staff is content with a first round exit from the Big Dance and is certainly contemplating what moves come next as they build toward a deeper and more meaningful tournament run next March. With that, here is what I believe will happen:
1/Point Guard:
This position is probably the one in my opinion that is going to be most pivotal offseason decision this staff makes, as to be successful in the post season getting better overall production is a must or the same issues we’ve seen here all season with inconsistency will continue into next year. On its face as a tandem I thought both Aden and Tre were okay/serviceable, but serviceable at this position only gets you so far in post season play.
Bruce has options here and I’d defer to him as I don’t know his roster the way he does, so he could choose to continue to try and develop both Aden and Tre into more of what he needs to reach the pinnacles of the sport, or he could go shopping for a veteran that is more consistent night in and night out right now and helps you value possessions, mitigate turnovers and better manage the flow of the game. Incoming freshman and 5 star PG prospect Tahaad Pettiford is also inbound to the plains, but imo he is best suited as a combo guard/scorer and having a veteran at the point that allows him the opportunity to moonlight at both backcourt positions while finding his footing on the college level would be beneficial to all parties involved. Personally I would target a transfer PG in the same vein as Alabama’s move a few years ago of taking a guy from a lower level like Mark Sears, but again I trust Bruce to do what he thinks is right here.
2/Shooting Guard/Combo Guard:
Denver Jones will be back, and that’s a great thing as he played his best basketball down the stretch. Denver also gives you added flexibility as he has shown flashes at the point guard spot, so instead of bringing a veteran point maybe you look at a guy like Tyrin Lawrence from Vandy as someone who allows Denver to move to the 1 full time.
What happens with KD Johnson though is probably the most intriguing part of this position puzzle. I love KD’s passion, energy, relentless defense and vigor; I also hate the turnovers and shot selection he brings to the table that no doubt give momentum to the other team at the most inopportune times. My gut says KD transfers for his last year and lands some place that will allow him to be a full time starter in his last year of college eligibility, so Bruce is potentially hunting for a back up 2 in the portal, or an option that allows Denver to move full time to the 1 and let’s Pettiford get KD’s minutes here.
3/Wing/Small Forward:
CBM will be back and while Chad certainly has some maturing to do, anyone who thinks he shouldn’t be here next year is short changing all the plus’s he brings to this team and is instead concentrating on a few less than stellar/costly moments. Yes he needs to be checked on his in game decision making, but that’s part of the maturation process for a lot of players and I think it’s one that Bruce won’t shy away from as he knows what CBM is when he’s right.
Glue guy Chris Moore has 1 more season of eligibility left and I personally hope he returns as I believe as a 9th or 10th option off the bench he gives you a lot of pluses both on the court and off. I wouldn’t blame him if he enters the portal and heads to an AAC or Sun Belt school where he can be a front line starter, but if he’s interested in returning, that would be an easy button yes for me if I’m Bruce.
Lastly, Jahkai Howard is young but an ideal fit at the Wing in a Bruce Pearl system. I’m not sure how quickly he gets onto court for major minutes, but I love his skillset and fully believe he has NBA upside. What happens with Moore’s decision will drive what Bruce does in the portal at this spot, but don’t expect Howard to concede an inch as he has a tough as nails type mentality and has plans of playing big minutes sooner rather than later.
4/Forward:
Gone is Jaylin Williams and in his place is Chaney Johnson, a guy who matured greatly over the course of this year and yet is still somewhat unproven as a full time starter. Bruce has to decide if he goes after a full time starting 4 here, or if he believes enough in Chaney to gamble on taking a developmental 4 instead (a third option could be giving backup minutes to Moore as an undersized 4 at times but I don’t see that as likely). I don’t have an answer on this as I’m intrigued by Johnson enough that this would be a hard call to make for me, but regardless another player at this position will have to be added as you just don’t have enough bodies right now.
5/Center:
What do Broome and Cardwell do, do they leave or stay or some combination there of, it’s anyone’s guess at this point. JB’s focus this year has been on getting himself ready for the draft by expanding his game. Has he done enough of that to declare for a second and final time, or would a big NIL deal and an unassured position in the draft entice him to stay one more year? I lean that he enters the draft, but I think it’s a closer call right now than I anticipated earlier this season.
Cardwell might be the most beloved role player in all of Auburn basketball history. What he does is likely driven by what JB does, as there is little to no way I see both returning. If Cardwell does play college ball next season I think he’d envision himself as having the opportunity to be a full time starter and growing his game. If Broome goes pro I think the chances of Dylan’s return go up exponentially, yet there’s also the chance that Auburn is shopping for two 5 men and that DC just decides it’s time to move on. Regardless this staff has to land a 5 this offseason, as Bruce has leaned on that position the past 3 years and it would take a major readjustment in sets and scheme to de-emphasize the importance of the Center’s role in Pearl’s system.
So that’s it for now, for me the the two biggest decisions are what happens at Point and Center moving into next year followed by what kind of player the staff chooses to sign to address the platoon at the 4 spot.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
1/Point Guard:
This position is probably the one in my opinion that is going to be most pivotal offseason decision this staff makes, as to be successful in the post season getting better overall production is a must or the same issues we’ve seen here all season with inconsistency will continue into next year. On its face as a tandem I thought both Aden and Tre were okay/serviceable, but serviceable at this position only gets you so far in post season play.
Bruce has options here and I’d defer to him as I don’t know his roster the way he does, so he could choose to continue to try and develop both Aden and Tre into more of what he needs to reach the pinnacles of the sport, or he could go shopping for a veteran that is more consistent night in and night out right now and helps you value possessions, mitigate turnovers and better manage the flow of the game. Incoming freshman and 5 star PG prospect Tahaad Pettiford is also inbound to the plains, but imo he is best suited as a combo guard/scorer and having a veteran at the point that allows him the opportunity to moonlight at both backcourt positions while finding his footing on the college level would be beneficial to all parties involved. Personally I would target a transfer PG in the same vein as Alabama’s move a few years ago of taking a guy from a lower level like Mark Sears, but again I trust Bruce to do what he thinks is right here.
2/Shooting Guard/Combo Guard:
Denver Jones will be back, and that’s a great thing as he played his best basketball down the stretch. Denver also gives you added flexibility as he has shown flashes at the point guard spot, so instead of bringing a veteran point maybe you look at a guy like Tyrin Lawrence from Vandy as someone who allows Denver to move to the 1 full time.
What happens with KD Johnson though is probably the most intriguing part of this position puzzle. I love KD’s passion, energy, relentless defense and vigor; I also hate the turnovers and shot selection he brings to the table that no doubt give momentum to the other team at the most inopportune times. My gut says KD transfers for his last year and lands some place that will allow him to be a full time starter in his last year of college eligibility, so Bruce is potentially hunting for a back up 2 in the portal, or an option that allows Denver to move full time to the 1 and let’s Pettiford get KD’s minutes here.
3/Wing/Small Forward:
CBM will be back and while Chad certainly has some maturing to do, anyone who thinks he shouldn’t be here next year is short changing all the plus’s he brings to this team and is instead concentrating on a few less than stellar/costly moments. Yes he needs to be checked on his in game decision making, but that’s part of the maturation process for a lot of players and I think it’s one that Bruce won’t shy away from as he knows what CBM is when he’s right.
Glue guy Chris Moore has 1 more season of eligibility left and I personally hope he returns as I believe as a 9th or 10th option off the bench he gives you a lot of pluses both on the court and off. I wouldn’t blame him if he enters the portal and heads to an AAC or Sun Belt school where he can be a front line starter, but if he’s interested in returning, that would be an easy button yes for me if I’m Bruce.
Lastly, Jahkai Howard is young but an ideal fit at the Wing in a Bruce Pearl system. I’m not sure how quickly he gets onto court for major minutes, but I love his skillset and fully believe he has NBA upside. What happens with Moore’s decision will drive what Bruce does in the portal at this spot, but don’t expect Howard to concede an inch as he has a tough as nails type mentality and has plans of playing big minutes sooner rather than later.
4/Forward:
Gone is Jaylin Williams and in his place is Chaney Johnson, a guy who matured greatly over the course of this year and yet is still somewhat unproven as a full time starter. Bruce has to decide if he goes after a full time starting 4 here, or if he believes enough in Chaney to gamble on taking a developmental 4 instead (a third option could be giving backup minutes to Moore as an undersized 4 at times but I don’t see that as likely). I don’t have an answer on this as I’m intrigued by Johnson enough that this would be a hard call to make for me, but regardless another player at this position will have to be added as you just don’t have enough bodies right now.
5/Center:
What do Broome and Cardwell do, do they leave or stay or some combination there of, it’s anyone’s guess at this point. JB’s focus this year has been on getting himself ready for the draft by expanding his game. Has he done enough of that to declare for a second and final time, or would a big NIL deal and an unassured position in the draft entice him to stay one more year? I lean that he enters the draft, but I think it’s a closer call right now than I anticipated earlier this season.
Cardwell might be the most beloved role player in all of Auburn basketball history. What he does is likely driven by what JB does, as there is little to no way I see both returning. If Cardwell does play college ball next season I think he’d envision himself as having the opportunity to be a full time starter and growing his game. If Broome goes pro I think the chances of Dylan’s return go up exponentially, yet there’s also the chance that Auburn is shopping for two 5 men and that DC just decides it’s time to move on. Regardless this staff has to land a 5 this offseason, as Bruce has leaned on that position the past 3 years and it would take a major readjustment in sets and scheme to de-emphasize the importance of the Center’s role in Pearl’s system.
So that’s it for now, for me the the two biggest decisions are what happens at Point and Center moving into next year followed by what kind of player the staff chooses to sign to address the platoon at the 4 spot.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
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