Meet the Opponent: Auburn Looks To Bounce Back Against Indiana in Atlanta

Following a 2-0 start to Big Ten play, Indiana plays the Auburn Tigers Saturday in Atlanta. Coached by Bruce Pearl, Auburn plays pressure defense, and its offense is led by forward Johni Broome and freshman guard Aden Holloway.

Auburn went through significant roster changes this offseason, but the Tigers play the same brand of basketball. Auburn gets after opponents on defense, and it has a variety of ways to score, anchored by senior forward Johni Broome. 

Pearl lost guards Wendell Green and Allen Flanigan, who were key contributors on the 2021-22 SEC title team, but he replaced them with five-star freshman Aden Holloway.

After a 14-year NCAA Tournament drought, Pearl has built Auburn into a perennial tournament team and SEC contender. He took Auburn to the 2019 Final Four and peaked at No. 4 in the AP poll the following season before the tournament was canceled. Auburn was also a top five team for nine weeks during the 2021-22 season.

Tipoff between Auburn and Indiana is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET inside the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Here's a breakdown of the Auburn Tigers.

Key returners

(2023-24 stats)

• F Johni Broome: 18.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 57.0 FG%
• F Jaylin Williams: 7.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg
• G Tre Donaldson: 7.0 ppg, 3.4 apg, 43.8 3-pt FG%
• G K.D. Johnson: 6.3 ppg, 1.1 apg, 1.0 spg
• C Dylan Cardwell: 4.7 ppg, 3.7 apg
• F Chris Moore: 3.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg

Key departures

(2022-23 stats)

• G Wendell Green: 13.7 ppg, 4.1 apg, 1.7 spg
• G Allen Flanigan: 10.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg
• G Zep Jasper: 2.8 ppg, 34 starts

Key newcomers

(2023-24 stats)

• G Aden Holloway (No. 16 freshman): 10.6 ppg, 34.9 3-pt FG%
• G/F Chad Baker-Mazara (Northwest Florida State College): 8.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg
• G Denver Jones (Florida International): 7.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 36.4 3-pt FG%
• F Chaney Johnson (Alabama-Huntsville): 4.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg

Schedule (5-2, 0-0 in SEC)

• L, 88-82 vs. Baylor (in South Dakota)
• W, 86-71 vs. Southeastern Louisiana
• W, 83-59 vs. Notre Dame (in New York)
• W, 77-60 vs. St. Bonaventure (in New York) 
• W, 84-54 vs. Alabama A&M
• W, 74-57 vs. Virginia Tech
• L, 69-64 at Appalachian State

Strengths

Auburn's Johni Broome is arguably the best forward in the SEC this year. At 6-foot-10, he's shooting an efficient 57% from the field and dangerous both in the pick-and-roll game and running the floor. Broome is averaging 9.1 rebounds, including 3.3 offensive rebounds. That reflects on Auburn as a team, which ranks 17th in the nation in offensive rebounding percentage. Broome plays just 23.4 minutes per game, which makes his 18.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game even more impressive. His matchup against Indiana's Kel'el Ware should be fascinating. 

Auburn puts a heavy emphasis on aggressive defense and on-ball pressure. So Pearl plays a deep rotation, with 10 players averaging at least 14 minutes per game. Broome, along with Dylan Cardwell and Jaylin Williams, are capable shot blockers, and the whole team is eager to jump passing lanes and go for steals. Auburn's defense ranks seventh in the nation in opponents' effective field goal percentage, 41.8.

One of Auburn's biggest offseason additions was five-star freshman guard Aden Holloway. Though his 31.4 field goal percentage reveals inconsistencies, Holloway showed in his first college game against No. 6 Baylor that he can really score, as he led Auburn with 19 points. 

Weaknesses

Auburn's shooting can go cold at times. In their loss at Appalachian State on Sunday, the Tigers shot just 39.4% from the field and 3-for-27 from 3-point range. Their 53.4 2-point field goal percentage is solid, but a 29.0 3-point shooting percentage ranks 290th in the nation. Broome and the bigs have been efficient, but starting shooting guard Denver Jones and backup guard K.D. Johnson are shooting 37.5% and 35.9%, respectively.

Because of Auburn's defensive pressure, it can get into foul trouble. Auburn averages 20.4 fouls per game, which ranks 38th in the nation, and six players finished with at least four fouls versus Baylor. This is often balanced out by Auburn's ability to get to the free throw line – Auburn ranks 23rd in the nation in free throw attempts per game – but the Tigers shoot just 69.4% as a team, while opponents have shot 76.7% at the line. 

Season outlook

Auburn was picked sixth in the preseason SEC poll, and Broome was one of seven preseason first-team All-SEC selections. The SEC doesn't have one dominant team, so Auburn should be in the mix to finish near the top of the conference. Though the Tigers have two losses already, neither should hurt their long-term résumé much, as Baylor looks like a Final Four contender and KenPom ranks Appalachian State No. 87 in the nation. Broome is putting together another impressive season, but Auburn needs more consistency from its guards and to improve on a 29.6 team 3-point percentage in order to reach its ceiling.

Related stories on Indiana basketball

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• GUNN'S CAREER NIGHT: Indiana senior point guard Xavier Johnson missed a second consecutive game Tuesday at Michigan, and Trey Galloway had a poor shooting night. But in a 78-75 win, CJ Gunn knocked down crucial shots, and Gabe Cupps played strong defense on Dug McDaniel. CLICK HERE
• IU-MICHIGAN GAME STORY: Indiana got one big play after another down the stretch and came away with a huge road win at Michigan on Tuesday night, winning 78-75. It's their second straight Big Ten victory in December, and they're now 7-1 on the season. CLICK HERE
• WATCH GALLOWAY TIE GAME: Indiana senior guard Trey Galloway made a layup through a foul on Tuesday night to tie the game against Michigan. Watch the highlight. CLICK HERE
• WATCH WARE'S DUNK: Indiana point guard Gabe Cupps fed Kel'el Ware for an easy fast break dunk on Tuesday night at Michigan. Watch the highlight below. CLICK HERE