Auburn basketball Israel trip: 5 overreactions to Tigers’ destruction of Israeli U-20 National Team

Auburn basketball HC Bruce Pearl’s tour of Israel for his guys could not have started more successfully than it did Tuesday afternoon against the Israeli under-20 men’s national basketball team in Jerusalem.

Every Tigers player that found the floor besides Carter Sobera scored during Auburn’s 117-56 rout of the Israeli U-20 squad. Wendell Green Jr., Zep Jesper, Allen Flanigan, Jaylin Williams, and Johni Broome were Pearl’s starting five, but just about everyone got in on the action.

Key frontcourt newcomers Broome, a Morehead State transfer, and 5-star freshman Yohan Traore, both had fine debuts, while freshman wing Chance Westry proved to be active on both sides of the floor.

Whether you were a veteran or a newcomer, if you wore orange and blue, you most likely had a highlight on Friday.

Let’s take a look at the most notable Auburn basketball takeaways of the afternoon as Fly War Eagle overreacts to a brilliant afternoon of exhibition basketball from a squad adjusting to international rules and a different ball.

Auburn basketball overreaction No. 1: Dylan Cardwell is as improved as advertised

College hoops aficionado Jon Rothstein said that ‘well embedded moles in the Southeast have sent word that Dylan Cardwell is arguably the most improved player in Auburn’s program,’ adding that the ‘6-11 big man has an opportunity to carve out space in Tigers’ rotation at C following Walker Kessler’s departure to the NBA.’

In showing an improved post-game offensively and maintaining his Tasmanian devil motor on the defensive end with 12 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks, Cardwell may be proving Rothstein’s moles correct.