re: Auburn @ Sooners “Walk the Line” to MM’26 Game Thread

We missed bad apparently this year on recruiting

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Again, Shariffe year as an example. We were dreck that year and that was an all Bruce roster just like this one is.

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That year was fluky as hell with COVID though. And that team had zero talent without Cooper.

The talent on this roster is much closer to Bruce's team in 22-23, just slightly less balanced. The difference is Steven looks to have lost the team and they seem to have quasi given up. That wouldn't have happened with Bruce.

Steven will get next year to recruit his own team fully, and we'll see what he's got as a coach. This team nosediving into the ground as the season has gone on is a really really bad reflection of his coaching ability though.

Just popped in to say Steven sucks. Bruce would’ve drug this team to 20 wins, kicking and screaming

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That year was fluky as hell with COVID though. And that team had zero talent without Cooper.

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JT Thor got some NBA minutes. Jaylin Williams was there but raw as all get out. Flanigan was there (streaky as we was and was literally running point for us at the end of the year). So was Dylan. It was a raw team.

This one is too but with far more portal misses.

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I doubt that. The composition of the roster is the issue first and foremost.

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So tell us who put this team together and was responsible for recruiting the portal?

This not directed at anyone and not a defense for this crappy roster but…

We have only been to the NCAA tournament 14 times in our basketball history in 120 years of playing. 8 prior to Bruce. 6 under Bruce. If Steven somehow manages to bring this team together enough to win the next 2 games we should make our 15 Appearance.

This is a disappointing year according to our standard under Bruce but is a success considering our program history. Anyone with a brain knew Steven was ready to be a head coach but would be a first year first time head coach. I think he’s done a good job. Maybe I’m giving him a pass but the coachable players on the team seem to be improving. SWA, Jovic, Freeman, Murphy has improved his shooting not sure if that is coaching or maturity and working harder on his skill. Hall is the same player but appears to be uncoachable by his body language and the rumors out of practice. Pettiford is an iso player that has had a terrible shooting season. His effort seems to be improving on the defensive side through out the season but will never be an elite defender.

I have no idea where Bashir (with his injured shoulder), opurum (with his back injury), or Magwood stand going forward. I assume Magwood leaves. Hall and Murphy will be gone. Pettiford I have no idea but NIL should be renegotiated to around 700k freeing up NIL to add players for next season.

Kevin Overton, Jovic, SWA, Freeman, Simon Walker I expect all to return. Possible returners Bashir, Pettiford, and Opurum. But the roster must be overhauled again. We have the freshman commit that will be at the 2. So the 2 spot is full unless Overton bolts. The 1 needs a senior transfer and Pettiford or experienced transfer. We need 2 at the 5 and 1 must be a top shot blocker the other needs size and rebounding. If one is a lob dunk guy great. The 4 is pretty full with SWA and Jovic. So getting a backup with length or elite athleticism would be good. At the 3 with Freeman we need a scorer that can shoot the 3 and finish at the rim.

This is a long post I know and anyone is free to disagree but our roster is probably gonna hover around $5m-$7m. We aren’t going to compete with Arizona, UNC, Duke, Kentucky, UConn, Gonzaga, Arkansas in basketball NIL. And for those saying who wants to play for Steven Pearl will be players we are willing to pay the most. Our defensive intensity requires playing full effort for 20-25 minutes a game. We are playing 7 players this season. I’m ready for a new roster of 11 guys that can contribute. 1 development player. And one walkon on scholarship that’s full of piss and vinegar.

End of rant.

The 2020 team was dreck because Shariffe was held out half the season and a shooter decided to sit. We were also post season banned beforehand.

Regardless, in 2020 Bruce had already earned his goodwill and that kept people in their seats. I trusted him to get the job done based on previous experience and charisma.

I don't owe his son the benefit of the doubt. Yes Bruce would struggle with this team but we would still have two or three more wins at this point.

Our arena and our traveling Auburn fans are disappointing. How do we get Duke to scold their own fans but a year later we disappear off the map.

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This is a disappointing year according to our standard under Bruce but is a success considering our program history.

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If this is your mentality why even get out of bed at all.
What's the point in waking up going 1-0.

Yes we might make the tournament but that is largely a testament to the SOS because winning 1/3rd of the quad 1 games is nothing to crow about.


Could we win those quad 1 games now that the scout is in? Doubt that.

It’s not my opinion it’s reality. You think the PTB is gonna invest big NIL money into basketball at Auburn???

I’m not accepting going back to what we were 20 years ago. But I don’t expect Steven to be Bruce either. We will probably be up and down similar to this season over the first 3-4 seasons but I do think outside of head coaching experience that Steven is a good coach. He’s not great yet but who knows what he becomes.

Bottom line this roster is not good. Our team is not good it’s just kind of meh considering what we have been the past 10 years. We have major holes at 2 positions the 1 and the 5. And crazy enough all the hand wringing Steven may just drag this group of misfits to the tournament whether they deserve it or not. Win 2 out the last 3 and we are in.