We are all aware that Bruce Pearl has a tough job with a young but talented team for the 2020-21 basketball season but whoa … CBS Sports is having none of the Tigers.
In a ranking of all Division I teams preseason, the site has Auburn all the way down at No. 88.
88. Auburn: I think it’ll be a tough season on the Plains, and this is a lower projection than most you’ll see with the Tigers. Bruce Pearl’s got a rebuild on his hands (lost all his starters), but at least there’s Sharife Cooper, a freshman point guard with flair who was a blue-chip prospect.
“But at least there’s Sharife Cooper?” I’m guessing that whoever wrote this has forgotten about Allen Flanigan, Tyrell Johnson, Babatunde Akingbola and a bunch of other talented freshmen including J.T. Thor that Pearl will have had his disposal.
Auburn is expected to begin the season on Nov. 25 against Saint Joe’s in Fort Myers.