Auburn Basketball: Who Will Start in the Frontcourt?

Auburn Basketball will have to decide who will start in the frontcourt this season. Will it be Anfernee McLemore or Horace Spencer?

Auburn’s returning starters in the frontcourt

There is no question that Auburn’s frontcourt will be one of the best in the country next season. With returning starters in the form of Anfernee McLemore and Horace Spencer, as well as talented newcomers like Bazie Bates-Diop and Chuma Okeke, the Tigers have a deep and experienced group of players that will give opposing teams fits all season long

But who will start?

That’s a tough question to answer, as all four players mentioned bring something different to the table. McLemore is a shot-blocking machine, Spencer is a versatile defender that can also step out and shoot from the perimeter, Bates-Diop is a stretch four that can score in a variety of ways, and Okeke is an athletic freak that can do a little bit of everything.

Ultimately, it will come down to who Head Coach Bruce Pearl feels gives him the best chance to win. And while there is no wrong answer, we think McLemore and Spencer will ultimately get the nod as Auburn’s starting frontcourt next season.

Auburn’s newcomers in the frontcourt

Auburn’s basketball team will have a different look in the frontcourt this season with the departures of Horace Spencer and Desean Murray. Auburn will have to replace their production in the form of rebounding and scoring, but who will start in their place?

Auburn’s two leading candidates to start are redshirt freshman Danjel Purifoy and freshman Austin Wiley. Purifoy is a 6’7″ forward who was a highly touted recruit coming out of High School He was rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN and was ranked in the top 60 of their class of 2016. Wiley is a 6’11” center who was also a highly touted recruit. He was rated as a five-star recruit by ESPN and was ranked in the top 15 of their class of 2017.

Both Purifoy and Wiley are expected to make an immediate impact for Auburn this season. They both have the size and athleticism to be productive players on both ends of the court. Who will start for Auburn in the frontcourt? Only time will tell, but both Purifoy and Wiley should see significant playing time this season.

Auburn’s redshirt players in the frontcourt

Redshirt freshman Power Forward Danjel Purifoy and center Horace Spencer are regarded as two of the top prospects in Auburn’s freshman class.

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl has said that he plans on starting both players in the frontcourt this season.

“I think those two guys [Purifoy and Spencer] give us the best chance to win right now,” Pearl said. “They’re both big, they’re both physical, they can both shoot it a little bit, they can put it on the floor, they can rebound, they block shots I think they’re going to be really good players.”

Spencer was ranked as a four-star recruit by ESPN and is expected to provide a shot-blocking presence in the middle of Auburn’s defense. Purifoy was ranked as a five-star recruit by ESPN and is expected to be a versatile scoring threat for the Tigers.

Auburn’s players who could start in the frontcourt

There are a few options for who could start in Auburn’s frontcourt this season. The most likely candidate is sophomore center Austin Wiley, who started 27 games last season. Wiley is a 6’11” big man who averaged 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game as a freshman. He has the size and experience to be a starter in the SEC, and he showed flashes of potential last season.

Another option is junior forward Horace Spencer. Spencer played in all 33 games last season, averaging 3.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game He’s not as big as Wiley (6’8″), but he’s a good shooter and he’s an excellent defender. Spencer could start at the power forward spot or come off the bench as a defensive specialist.

The Wild Card in Auburn’s frontcourt is freshman Chuma Okeke. Okeke is a 6’8″ power forward who was rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports. He’s long and athletic, and he has the potential to be a very good player at the college level. It’s unclear if Okeke will start right away or come off the bench, but he should see significant playing time either way.

Auburn also has some depth in the frontcourt with forwards Danjel Purifoy, Anfernee McLemore, Horace Spencer, and Malik Dunbar. Purifoy (6’7″) and McLemore (6’10”) are both rangy athletes who can shoot from the outside, while Spencer (6’8″) and Dunbar (6’6″) are more of traditional big men who do their work inside the paint. All four of these players will see time on the court this season, but it remains to be seen how much playing time they’ll get behind Wiley, Spencer, and Okeke

Auburn’s potential starting lineup in the frontcourt

Auburn will have a new look in the frontcourt this season with the departure of longtime starter Anfernee McLemore. The Tigers will have to replace his production, and they will have a few options to choose from.

Auburn could start junior Horace Spencer at power forward and redshirt junior Donta Hall at center. That would give the Tigers a Good defensive frontcourt, as both Spencer and Hall are good shot-blockers. They would also have some size, as Hall is 6’10” and Spencer is 6’9″.

Another option would be to start freshman Austin Wiley at center and move Hall to power forward This would give Auburn a very big frontcourt, as Wiley is 6’11” and Hall is 6’10”. It would also give the Tigers two good shot-blockers in the starting lineup

The final option would be to start redshirt sophomore Danjel Purifoy at power forward and move Hall to center. This would give Auburn a more athletic frontcourt, as Purifoy is an excellent athlete. It would also give the Tigers two good shooters in the Starting Lineup as Purifoy is a very good shooter from three-point range

Auburn has a few options for its starting lineup in the frontcourt, and it will be interesting to see which one coach Bruce Pearl ultimately chooses.

Auburn’s depth in the frontcourt

In recent years Auburn has been fortunate to have a wealth of talent in the frontcourt. This season is no different, as the Tigers have a Number of players who could see significant time in the post. So who will start for Auburn in the frontcourt?

Coach Bruce Pearl has a few options at his disposal. He could go with a traditional two-post lineup, featuring junior Anfernee McLemore and sophomore Horace Spencer. Or he could opt for a smaller lineup and start freshman Chuma Okeke at power forward alongside center Austin Wiley.

Another option would be to start junior Desean Murray at power forward and bring Okeke off the bench as a sparkplug. Pearl could also choose to go with experience over youth and start Murray and McLemore in the frontcourt.

Whatever Pearl decides, he will have no shortage of options in the frontcourt. With so much talent at his disposal, it will be interesting to see how he chooses to utilize it.

Auburn’s experience in the frontcourt

Auburn will have a lot of experience in the frontcourt this season with the return of all five starters. However, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be competition for playing time. Here’s a look at who will be competing for the starting jobs in the frontcourt.

Returns:
-Anfernee McLemore (6’7″, senior): Started all 33 games last season and was Auburn’s second leading scorer (12.1 ppg) and rebounder (6.8 rpg). He also led the team in blocked shots (71) and was second in steals (32).
-Chuma Okeke (6’8″, sophomore): Started 32 of 33 games as a freshman and was Auburn’s third leading scorer (10.0 ppg) and leading rebounder (6.8 rpg). He also led the team in steals (33) and was second in blocked shots (52).
-Bryan Bresee (6’10”, freshman): Enrolled early and will have a chance to compete for a starting job. Bresee is a five-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 2 player in the 2020 class by 247Sports.com.

Competition:
-Isaac Okoro (6’6″, freshman): Okoro is another five-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 4 player in the 2020 class by 247Sports.com. He’s expected to compete for a starting job immediately.
--Jaylin Williams (6’10”, redshirt freshman): Williams redshirted last season but should be in the mix for playing time this season.

Auburn’s size in the frontcourt

In order for Auburn to be successful this season, they will need to rely on their size in the frontcourt. The Tigers have a few options when it comes to who will start in the frontcourt, but we believe that the best option is to go with Anfernee McLemore and Austin Wiley.

Both McLemore and Wiley are 6’10”, which gives them the size advantage over most of their opponents. They also have the ability to score in the post, which is something that Auburn will need with their lack of scoring options on the perimeter.

The only drawback with starting both McLemore and Wiley is that they are not great defenders. However, we believe that they can make up for it with their size and strength. Overall, we think that starting both McLemore and Wiley is the best option for Auburn’s frontcourt.

Auburn’s athleticism in the frontcourt

The biggest question for Auburn heading into the season is who will start in the frontcourt. The Tigers have a lot of talent and athleticism in the frontcourt, but not a lot of experience.

Auburn will likely start juniorcollege transfer Anfernee McLemore at one of the forward spots. McLemore is 6-foot-7 and is a very good athlete. He’s also a good shot blocker and should be able to provide some defense in the post.

The other starting forward spot will likely come down to sophomores Horace Spencer or Danjel Purifoy. Spencer is 6-foot-8 and is a very good athlete. He’s also a good rebounder and has the ability to score inside and out. Purifoy is 6-foot-7 and is also a very good athlete. He’s more of a perimeter player, but he can also score in the post.

The Tigers also have two other big men who could see significant playing time this season. Freshman Austin Wiley is 6-foot-11 and was one of the top recruits in the country last year. Wiley is very athletic and has the potential to be a very good player. Senior Devin Wertz is 6-foot-10 and provides some experience in the post.

10)Auburn’s coaching staff’s thoughts on the frontcourt

Auburn’s Coaching Staff is very pleased with the team’s performance in the frontcourt this season. They have been very consistent in their production and have shown great improvement in their rebounding and defense. The staff is still undecided on who will start in the frontcourt, but they are confident that they have the talent to win the championship.