Auburn’s size problem just got bigger as the Tigers announced that center Emeka Opurum will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
“Our priority is Emeka’s health and well-being,” Steven Pearl said. “We look forward to Emeka making a full recovery and returning next season.”
At 7-foot and 205 pounds, the transfer from Butler Community College in Kansas was expected to fill a void left by Dylan Cardwell and Johni Broome in the middle of the lane for the Tigers. In six games this year, Opurum averaged 3.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks a game.
His absence leaves even more of a problem inside for Pearl’s squad. Keyshawn Murphy is 6-foot-10, while Sebastian Williams-Adams and Filip Jovic stand 6-foot-8, with Keyshawn Hall at 6-foot-7.
The Tigers face Chattanooga on Saturday in Atlanta, which shouldn’t provide a size mismatch for Auburn, but next Saturday in Indianapolis against Purdue, it could be a massive problem.