Auburn Last season: 18-14, lost to Missouri in first round of SEC tournament Nickname: Tigers Coach: Bruce Pearl Conference: Southeastern Who’s gone: G T.J. Dunans (8.2 ppg, 2nd in assists); G Ronnie Johnson (7.8 ppg, 3rd in assists). Who’s back:
Auburn
Last season: 18-14, lost to Missouri in first round of SEC tournament
Nickname: Tigers
Coach: Bruce Pearl
Conference: Southeastern
Who’s gone: G T.J. Dunans (8.2 ppg, 2nd in assists); G Ronnie Johnson (7.8 ppg, 3rd in assists).
Who’s back: G Mustapha Heron led team in scoring (15.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.1 rpg) last season; F Danjel Purifoy averaged 11.5 points and led team with 59 3-pointers; C Austin Wiley (8.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg); G Jared Harper (11.4 ppg, team-high 95 assists).
Who’s new: G Davion Mitchell is a four-star prospect and strong defender at the point. F Chuma Okeke, another four-star signee, averaged a double-double in points and rebounds during a four-game Italy tour.
The Skinny: The Tigers appeared poised to make a run at their first NCAA Tournament since 2003, but open with a cloud of uncertainty instead. Associate head coach Chuck Person has been arrested in a federal investigation for allegedly accepting bribes to steer Auburn pro prospects to a financial advisor after college. Part of that money allegedly went to families of two recruits, possibly leaving them ineligible. Auburn and investigators haven’t disclosed the players’ identity.
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