With only one loss under their belts, Auburn basketball has had a dominant start to the 2021 season, but they’ve done it without a key piece of the lineup. Junior Allen Flanigan has yet to play for the Tigers this season after suffering a torn Achilles earlier this year.
Flanigan returned to practice earlier this month, and head coach Bruce Pearl has been shooting for a mid-December return to the lineup. Last week Pearl said he was hoping to have Flanigan back before the LSU game on December 29, and confirmed he was making progress, per AL.com:
"“He gives us a chance to continue to grow and improve. We’ve got to get ready without him right now. And at some point, I would love to get him back before LSU,” Pearl said. “I don’t know whether we will. We’ll do what’s best as far as his health and when he’s completely ready … That’s kind of what our plan … just because to come back right at the start of the SEC, that’s a lot to ask. Love to get his feet wet a little bit if we can.”"
Now, after Saturday night’s comeback win against Saint Louis on the road, Bruce Pearl confirmed that Flanigan will return soon and that he could even be back for Auburn basketball’s matchup against Murray State this Wednesday, December 22.
Auburn's Allen Flanigan (achilles) is "close" to returning to action, per Bruce Pearl. Averaged 14.3 PPG and 5.5 RPG last season.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 20, 2021
Pearl on Flanigan: "He could play Wednesday against Murray State."
Last season, Flanigan averaged 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. Devan Cambridge and Chris Moore, both returners, have stepped up this season in Flanigan’s absence, and will likely see their minutes gradually adjusted with the return of Flanigan.
With an Auburn basketball team that continues to play hard and improve, only good things will come from the impending return of Allen Flanigan.