Auburn basketball: NBA Players, media, fans react to Sharife’s debut

Auburn basketball Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn basketball Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

In the most electrifying game of the Auburn basketball season, Sharife Cooper fell an assist shy of a double-double in his spectacular Tigers debut.

Wow. Auburn basketball fans knew that they were missing the main event attraction this year with Sharife Cooper being ruled ineligible to play for the Tigers until this morning.

I just am not sure anyone could have predicted a debut so spectacularly memorable that all Fly War Eagle can think about is Auburn’s next contest in Athens against the Georgia Bulldogs. Cooper’s stat-line of 26 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and three steals was the exact kind of play most figured would garner NBA interest.

It even had a certain NBA player–that I thought of while watching Cooper play —commenting on it:

Ja Morant similarly has lightning-quick–yet stunningly smooth–handles and dribble moves, but like Cooper, he is fearless in attacking the basket and either setting up his teammates or finishing with flair.

Of course, game recognizes game, and you aren’t going to hear players say anything negative. The old guard of college hoops heads has no problem doing so:

To be fair to Goodman, that last minute of play for Cooper was rough…but he also did have his first 11 games taken away from him and missed 72 days of practice.

As great as it is to hear Morant comment on a future NBA stud in Cooper, and how less pleasant it is to hear Goodman comment on it, what matters is what Auburn basketball fans think.

And you are as in awe of Cooper as FWE is:

The best part about Cooper’s debut to many Tigers fans is that we haven’t even seen him play next to Justin Powell yet:

Auburn Twitter’s resident Einstein chimed in a tongue-in-cheek manner:

When this squad is at full strength, the SEC better prepare itself for a serious spoiler.

And if Cooper stays next season…watch out, NCAA. Revenge is a dish best served cold.