With three weeks until the November 2 exhibition opener against The University of Alabama in Huntsville and just under a month until the 2022-23 season opener against George Mason, Auburn basketball is finalizing aspects of their rotations and still working on others.
The Tigers lost two starters to the NBA, with Jabari Smith going No. 3 overall in the 2022 draft — a draft-night shocker considering most projected Orlando to take him but the Magic opted for Paolo Banchero instead — and Walker Kessler going No. 22 in the first round before being traded several times before ending up on the Utah Jazz.
Now, Bruce Pearl will be tasked with picking up the pieces in their absence, while also integrating a transfer stepping up from the Mid-Major ranks and several Class of 2022 additions set to contribute out of the gate.
According to Pearl, he’s been able to already name two starters of the five position groups — and some context provides a clue as to who was named:
Auburn HC Bruce Pearl says he knows who two of his starters are right now, so there are three position battles still going right now
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) October 12, 2022
(hint: Pearl talked today about the battles at small forward, power forward and center, so…)
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) October 12, 2022
Auburn basketball is likely already set in the backcourt
The two position groups not mentioned by the Auburn Observer’s Justin Ferguson as being spoken about by Auburn basketball head coach Bruce Pearl was his backcourt. Based off of last season, that likely means that Zep Jasper and K.D. Johnson, who started 32 and 31 games, respectively, will be reprising their roles at the 1 and 2.
As for the other position groups, On3’s Justin Hokanson relayed Pearl’s updates on those position battles:
Bruce Pearl mentions Yohan Traore and Jaylin Williams are neck and neck, same with Dylan Cardwell and Johni Broome during practices so far. Quality competition.
— Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) October 12, 2022
The small forward spot could be an open battle between Allen Flanigan and whoever doesn’t get the nod at power forward unless Chance Westry is a contender upon returning to the lineup after a three to four week timetable after his arthroscopic knee surgery on October 6.