Why Auburn basketball's season will be nothing like football's
By Brooks Crew
Despite Auburn basketball’s statement 94-43 season-opening win against Vermont, many Auburn fans have been hesitant to believe in this team -- quickly pointing to Auburn football’s similar start against Alabama A&M.
Here’s why it’ll be different.
Head football coach Hugh Freeze’s squad blew out Alabama A&M. With a final score of 73-3, many fans were poised to believe that the team’s season would be one for the ages, despite just days before referring to this season as a rebuild.
Auburn basketball, led by tenured head coach Bruce Pearl, blew out Vermont in a similar fashion; scoring more than double the points of the flailing Catamounts.
The difference? Team rankings. Alabama A&M may as well be a D2 school. They were ranked number 250 in SP+ (an opponent-measured metric of game efficiency), and have had three straight losing seasons.
Conversely, Vermont has been ranked No. 75 in the KenPom rankings, a widely accepted poll for basketball rankings, and has appeared in three straight NCAA Tournaments.
Additionally, the football team has also had three straight losing seasons, while Pearl’s squad has reached three straight NCAA tournaments.
Auburn basketball is dominated by veterans, whereas Auburn football plays mostly underclassmen
The age of each team is also a heavy contributing factor to each team's performance. As the saying goes, “Experience outranks everything,” and each Auburn squad proves the rule. Despite significant high-class talent, the Auburn football team is dominated by underclassmen with little to no experience with high-level football.
Contrarily, the Auburn basketball team is old. Very old. In fact, only five of the team’s 18 players are a sophomore or younger, and the team is dominated by seniors. It is this experience that sets the Auburn basketball team apart from not just other teams in the league, but also its sister Auburn Football.
Obviously, only time will tell if Auburn basketball will truly be a contender, but I see no reason why this team can’t go to the Final Four and beyond.