Birmingham, Ala. - Auburn Head Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl, along with senior forward Jaylin Williams and junior forward Johni Broome, attended SEC Basketball Media Day to preview this year's Auburn team.
A common theme of the day was experience, something this year's squad does not lack. The Tigers hope this will give them an advantage over their opponents, as Auburn only has one freshman on this year's team. The squad is made up of two fifth-year seniors, three seniors, five juniors, and one sophomore.
"I think everyone is trying to get old and stay old," Pearl said. "With the exception of Uconn, we saw that in the Final Four."
Pearl certainly believes his team's experience will give them the best chance to succeed.
Fifth-Year Seniors: Jaylin Williams and Lior Berman
Jaylin Williams next win as an Auburn Tiger will make him the winningest player in Auburn basketball history. For Williams, the honor is special.
"Whenever we win our first game, it's going to be very special for me and my family, and like my blessings, share that with my family," Williams said.
Williams has been an integral part of Auburn basketball's success since his freshman year, and now the fifth-year senior will be relied on even more. He averaged 11.2 PPG last season, but Williams believes he has improved his game.
"I'm shooting the ball a lot better this summer," Williams said. "I am playing a lot better, playing more physically than I have in the past."
The other fifth-year senior, Lior Berman, was a former walk-on. Berman earned a scholarship after a few years on the plains and decided to return for his fifth year. He has played limited minutes during his years on the field, but he provides good shooting and defense off the bench.
Seniors: K.D. Johnson, Chris Moore, and Dylan Cardwell
K.D. Johnson transferred from Georgia two years ago and now enters his third season with the Tigers. Johnson's energy is unmatched, and his defense is daunting for opponents. As Auburn's best returning defender, Johnson may be hard to keep off the court this season.
His SEC experience could also prove valuable. If he can continue to play defense at a high level while improving his offensive output, it would be great news for Auburn.
Chris Moore enters his senior season having been one of the most consistent players for Auburn over the last couple of seasons. Moore does not necessarily stand out on the stat sheet, but he is a great leader and provides solid defense off the bench.
Dylan Cardwell is a fan favorite. In his first three years, he has proven to be a great rebounder and defender. He plays with great energy as well. Cardwell will backup Johni Broome again this season.
Juniors: Johni Broome, Denver Jones, Chad Baker-Mazara, Adarin Scott, and Chaney Johnson
Johni Broome was named to the All-SEC First Team after putting up impressive numbers last season for Auburn. Broome was grateful for the honor, but admitted there's more to it than just him.
“It’s exciting to be acknowledged as one of the top players in the league, but you can’t really look too much into it," Broome said. "I feel like my teammates are not appreciated how they should be, but that’s why it’s preseason rankings.”
After considering moving on to the NBA, Broome decided to return to Auburn. He will now be the focal point of this year's Auburn team.
"We're going to go through him," Pearl said. "People are going to double-team him, so he's going to have to kick it out a little bit."
Jaylin Williams, Lior Berman, Dylan Cardwell, Chris Moore, KD Johnson, and Johni Broome are all veteran players in college basketball with experience at Auburn.
Pearl, however, brought in four transfers. While they do have multiple years of college experience under their belt, none have played in the SEC. He believes they are ready, though.
"I'm happy for my Division II players, my junior college players, and my mid-major players who are hungry and feel blessed to have been able to earn the right to be able to play at the highest level," Peal said.
Arguably the biggest addition was guard Denver Jones. Jones averaged over 20 PPG at FIU last season and made the All-Conference USA team. He brings needed offensive firepower and shooting to the Auburn roster. The Tigers will no doubt rely on his scoring ability this season.
Auburn also brought in two JUCO transfers, Adarin Scott and Chad Baker-Mazara. Adarin Scott will provide depth off the bench in either the four or five positions. Chad Baker-Mazara is competing to start in the three positions. He is 6'7 and can shoot really well.
"Chad is amazing," Williams said about the versatility of Baker-Mazara.
Finally, Auburn brought in a DII transfer in Chaney Johnson. Johnson is competing in the four-man lineup with Jaylin Williams, and his head coach has high expectations for him.
"Chaney Johnson is a Division II player, one of the better players in Division II," Pearl said. "He is going to be one of the better players in our league this year or next."
Freshmen: Aden Holloway
The only player at Auburn this year without collegiate experience is Aden Holloway. Holloway was a five-star recruit and may end up being the most talented player on the team. With plenty of experience all around him, Auburn hopes he will thrive. He is a gifted shooter with a deep range and great handles.
Auburn will begin their season on November 7th in South Dakota against Baylor. With a veteran team, the Tigers will seek a successful season.
“I am very excited. A lot of the new guys are hard workers," Williams said. "I know we have a very tough schedule this year, and that is what we need for the tournament, and I think we can pull it off as a team this year.”
