Auburn Basketball: Embracing change, challenges, expectations with new portal additions

Auburn men's basketball had a rough go last season.

The Tigers fought through one of the toughest conference slates they have faced underneath coach Bruce Pearl to reach the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons (excluding the COVID cancellation in 2020).

Now, following a number of transfer losses, graduations, and overhaul, Auburn looks a little different heading into this year. There are seven new additions to the squad, more than Pearl has ever had to begin a season at Auburn.

Even with the new faces on roster (including two walk-ons), the Tigers still have a little experience to lean on.

"We bring enough guys back from that team, and enough experience back to build on," Pearl said before Auburn's first official practice. "We've got probably as many newcomers this year as I've ever had [...] that gives us enough new players to put a little bit of 'pop' in the lineup. Give us some new things we can work on with some new personnel, which makes it very very exciting."

A little bit of pop is what Auburn probably needs.

Personnel dictated a large amount of the Tigers' inconsistent offense a season ago, with a slower, methodical approach being Pearl's choice with a more frontcourt focused lineup.

The 2022 version of Auburn was the slowest they've had underneath Coach Pearl, finishing 160th in adjusted tempo (KenPom). It was also Auburn's worst shooting year since the early Pearl days. Their 49.5 effective field goal percentage (225th nationally) was by far the Tigers' worst mark dating back to 2016.

The pace, scheme, and offensive numbers may not improve dramatically, but new bodies will help dictate a resurgence on that side of the ball... and Pearl expects success.

"Over the last six years, arguably we've had the best program in the SEC," Pearl said. "We've won more NCAA Tournament games than any program in the SEC over these last six years. We've won three championships in the last six years, we've obviously put six or seven guys into the NBA. Our goal is to be able to come back next year and say 'over the last seven years, we've had the best program in the league.' That's going to be challenging because there are some people that are right behind us. Can we say next year 'we've won more NCAA Tournament games than anybody over the last seven years?' That's kind of what my goal is."

That's the goal for Auburn, who finished 21-13 a season ago with a second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament - to get back to the top of the conference. Their dive into the transfer portal should certainly help.

It was also needed, considering Auburn lost five players to the portal or graduation. Pearl said it hurt to lose those guys.

"I like the transfer portal because I like kids to be able to have the opportunity," Pearl said. "I don't like the transfer portal because I hate losing guys. We try and create an atmosphere of tough love and family, and so nobody likes to lose parts of their family. It hurts."

To help ease the losses, Auburn brought in freshman five-star point guard Aden Holloway to play alongside sophomore Tre Donaldson at point guard. It's the Tigers' youngest position. Outside of PG, there's experience to go around. Junior transfer Denver Jones will play shooting guard with KD Johnson.

Third-year wing Chad Baker-Mazara was a key contributor on San Diego State's 23-9 squad back during the 2021-22 season before becoming the leading scorer for JUCO Northwest Florida State College. He helped the Raiders reach the NJCAA National Championship game.

Chaney Johnson enters his third season playing college ball, taking a step up from D-II to the SEC. Not to mention veterans Jaylin Williams and Johni Broome, who form one of the best frontcourt duos in the entire country.

Sure, people walked out, but Pearl and his staff landed a few walking in.

"Every time we've lost someone in the family, we've gotten better," Pearl said. "Will that be the case again this year? We'll see."

Pearl went on to explain why he believes Auburn could be better despite losses across the roster. He praised the departed Zep Jasper for being a role model and representing what Auburn basketball is.

He didn't take possessions off, he worked hard, and he was one of the best on ball defenders Pearl has ever had.

However, with Jasper's graduation leaving a hole at shooting guard, the Tigers' secured the services of FIU transfer Denver Jones, one of the best scorers in the entire country.

Pearl believes that Jones could be an overall upgrade at the position despite having lost such a good player in Jasper.

"Denver Jones is a much better offensive player than Zep (Jasper)," Pearl said. "He's bigger, he's stronger, and he works really hard defensively. That could be an upgrade at the position. I'm really excited about Denver. You're going to see him do some things that he didn't do. In years past, he's been a shooter. He's been a guy that would get to the elbow and pull up. Now, I think in part due to the way coach Damon Davis and our staff are able to really transform bodies [...] you wouldn't recognize Denver Jones if you saw him in the spring compared to what he looks like now. He's put on 15 (pounds), all muscle. Now he's able to kind of get downhill and get to the rim, which is an element of his game that he didn't have before."

Another new player that excites Pearl is Chaney Johnson, a strong 6-foot-7 wing that transferred in from Alabama-Huntsville and has proven to be one of the hardest workers on the team.

"He is a tremendously powerful athlete," Pearl said. "He's replacing Yohan Traore [...] a Division II player that was one of the better Division II players in the country a year ago, now gets a chance to play in the SEC, I think it's a great story."

Pearl even believes Johnson could push senior forward Jaylin Williams for starting minutes at power forward.

"He's in a battle with Jaylin Williams for a starting position, and right now it's really close. It's very close. Jaylin had a really good fall, Chaney has had a really good summer and fall. He's big and strong, athletic and powerful, and can shoot it, can defend multiple positions - I think we're better at that position."

Can Auburn challenge for the SEC crown for the fourth time in Pearl's tenure with a revamped roster? It will be difficult, but it's clear the Tigers are excited and confident as they begin preseason practice.

Auburn Basketball: Embracing change, challenges, expectations with new portal additions

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