2017–18 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team

The 2017–18 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team represented Auburn University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season as a member of the Southeastern Conference. The team's head coach was Bruce Pearl in his fourth season at Auburn. The team played their home games at the Auburn Arena in Auburn, Alabama. They finished the season 26–8, 13–5 in SEC play to win a share of the SEC regular season championship. They lost to Alabama in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where they defeated College of Charleston to advance to the Second Round where they lost to Clemson.[1]

2017–18 Auburn Tigers men's basketball
SEC regular season co-champions
NCAA Tournament, Second Round
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 23
APNo. 19
2017–18 record26–8 (13–5 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Harris Adler
  • Steven Pearl
Home arenaAuburn Arena
2017–18 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 19 Auburn135 .722  268  .765
No. 13 Tennessee135 .722  269  .743
No. 23 Florida117 .611  2113  .618
No. 18 Kentucky108 .556  2611  .703
Missouri108 .556  2013  .606
Arkansas108 .556  2312  .657
Mississippi State99 .500  2512  .676
Texas A&M99 .500  2213  .629
Alabama810 .444  2016  .556
LSU810 .444  1815  .545
Georgia711 .389  1815  .545
South Carolina711 .389  1716  .515
Vanderbilt612 .333  1220  .375
Ole Miss513 .278  1220  .375
2018 SEC Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Tigers finished the 2016–17 season 18–14, 7–11 in SEC play to finish in 11th place. They lost in the first round of the SEC Tournament to Missouri.

FBI investigation

On September 26, 2017, federal prosecutors in New York announced charges of fraud and corruption against 10 people involved in college basketball, including Auburn associate head coach Chuck Person.[2] The charges allege that Person and others allegedly received benefits from financial advisers and others to influence student-athletes to retain their services.[3] Shortly thereafter, the school suspended Person without pay.[4] Person was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently fired by Auburn on November 7, 2017.[5]

Before Auburn's exhibition game on November 2, 2017, the school announced that it would hold players Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy out of games indefinitely due to eligibility concerns raised over the FBI investigation.[6] On January 12, 2018, the NCAA ruled that Wiley would regain his eligibility in the 2018–19 season, ruling him ineligible for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[7]

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
T. J. Dunans4G6'5"174RS SeniorAtlanta, GAGraduated
LaRon Smith12F6'8"215RS SeniorPalm Bay, FLGraduated
T. J. Lang23G6'7"210JuniorMobile, ALTransferred to South Florida
Mike Cohen25G5'10"175FreshmanVoorhees, NJWalk-on; didn't return
Devin Waddell31F6'5"225SeniorSummerfield, NCGraduated
Ronnie Johnson35G6'0"180RS SeniorIndianapolis, INGraduated

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Malik Dunbar14G/F6'6"225JuniorNorth Augusta, SCJunior college transferred College of Central Florida
Samir Doughty20G6'4"185RS SophomorePhiladelphia, PATransferred from VCU. Under NCAA transfer rules, Doughty will have to sit out for the 2017–18 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.

2017 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Chuma Okeke
SF
Fairburn, GA Westlake High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jul 24, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Davion Mitchell
PG
Hinesville, GA Liberty County School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Oct 15, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 21   Rivals: 11  ESPN: 28
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Auburn 2017 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  • "2017 Auburn Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  • "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.

    Roster

    2017–18 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    F 0 Horace Spencer 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)225 lb (102 kg) JrFindlay Prep Warminster, PA
    G 1 Jared Harper 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)170 lb (77 kg) SoPebblebrook Mableton, GA
    G 2 Bryce Brown 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)198 lb (90 kg) JrTucker Stone Mountain, GA
    F 3 Danjel Purifoy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)230 lb (104 kg) RS SoHargrave Military Academy Centerville, AL
    F 4 Chuma Okeke 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)230 lb (104 kg) FrWestlake Atlanta, GA
    G 5 Mustapha Heron 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)218 lb (99 kg) SoMartin Luther King Jr.
    Sacred Heart
    Waterbury, CT
    G 10 Davion Mitchell 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)200 lb (91 kg) FrLiberty County Hinesville, GA
    G 12 Devontae Williams (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)215 lb (98 kg) SoOpp Opp, AL
    F 13 DeSean Murray 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)225 lb (102 kg) RS JrNorthside
    Presbyterian
    Stanley, NC
    G/F 14 Malik Dunbar 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)230 lb (104 kg) JrSpring Valley
    College of Central Florida
    North Augusta, SC
    G 20 Samir Doughty (I)  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)187 lb (85 kg) RS SoMathematics, Civics & Science Charter
    VCU
    Philadelphia, PA
    G 21 Patrick Keim 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)186 lb (84 kg) SrMountain Brook Birmingham, AL
    G 22 Will Macoy (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg) SoVestavia Hills Birmingham, AL
    G 23 Jaylan Gaither (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg) SoHoover Alès, France
    F 24 Anfernee McLemore 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)220 lb (100 kg) SoWorth County Warwick, GA
    F 41 Cole Blackstock (W) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)260 lb (118 kg) JrBrooks Killen, AL
    F 44 Heath Huff (W) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)250 lb (113 kg) RS FrLee Scott Academy Auburn, AL
    C 50 Austin Wiley 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)260 lb (118 kg) SoSpain Park Hoover, AL
    F 52 Trey Tate (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)230 lb (104 kg) JrRehobeth Dothan, AL
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    November 2, 2017*
    7:00 pm
    Barry L 95–100 OT  
     21  Heron  8  Murray  7  Harper  Auburn Arena (6,374)
    Auburn, AL
    Non-conference regular season
    November 10, 2017*
    7:00 pm, SECN+
    Norfolk State W 102–74  1–0
     31  Brown  7  Tied  5  Heron  Auburn Arena (7,419)
    Auburn, AL
    November 16, 2017*
    10:30 am, ESPNU
    vs. Indiana State
    Charleston Classic quarterfinals
    W 83–64  2–0
     15  Brown  12  Murray  7  Harper  TD Arena (2,136)
    Charleston, SC
    November 17, 2017*
    10:00 am, ESPN2
    vs. Temple
    Charleston Classic semifinals
    L 74–88  2–1
     19  McLemore  11  Murray  7  Harper  TD Arena (1,970)
    Charleston, SC
    November 19, 2017*
    6:00 pm, ESPNU
    vs. Hofstra
    Charleston Classic 3rd place game
    W 89–78  3–1
     22  Heron  6  Tied  3  Mitchell  TD Arena (2,263)
    Charleston, SC
    November 24, 2017*
    6:00 pm, SECN
    Winthrop W 119–85  4–1
     31  Heron  10  Heron  7  Harper  Auburn Arena (7,197)
    Auburn, AL
    November 29, 2017*
    6:00 pm, CBSSN
    at Dayton
    Charleston Classic non-bracket game
    W 73–60  5–1
     21  Heron  14  McLemore  3  Harper  UD Arena (13,125)
    Dayton, OH
    December 3, 2017*
    2:00 pm, SECN+
    George Mason W 79–63  6–1
     19  Heron  10  McLemore  3  Tied  Auburn Arena (6,164)
    Auburn, AL
    December 6, 2017*
    7:00 pm, SECN+
    Gardner–Webb W 80–55  7–1
     20  Murray  11  McLemore  10  Harper  Auburn Arena (6,232)
    Auburn, AL
    December 9, 2017*
    3:30 pm, SECN
    UAB
    Rivalry
    W 85–80  8–1
     27  Brown  9  McLemore  5  Harper  Auburn Arena (7,565)
    Auburn, AL
    December 16, 2017*
    5:00 pm, SECN
    vs. Middle Tennessee
    BHM JAM
    W 76–70  9–1
     16  Tied  7  Spencer  7  Harper  Legacy Arena (7,209)
    Birmingham, AL
    December 19, 2017*
    7:00 pm, OVCDN
    at Murray State W 81–77  10–1
     18  Murray  9  Murray  4  Harper  CFSB Center (6,478)
    Murray, KY
    December 23, 2017*
    1:30 pm, ESPN2
    UConn W 89–64  11–1
     13  Tied  10  Spencer  7  Harper  Auburn Arena (8,039)
    Auburn, AL
    December 30, 2017*
    2:30 pm, SECN
    Cornell W 98–77  12–1
     19  Brown  10  Okeke  7  Harper  Auburn Arena (8,493)
    Auburn, AL
    SEC regular season
    January 2, 2018
    6:00 pm, ESPNU
    at No. 23 Tennessee W 94–84  13–1
    (1–0)
     18  Tied  9  Tied  4  Okeke  Thompson–Boling Arena (14,755)
    Knoxville, TN
    January 6, 2018
    5:00 pm, ESPNU
    No. 22 Arkansas W 88–77  14–1
    (2–0)
     17  Heron  8  Murray  8  Harper  Auburn Arena (8,950)
    Auburn, AL
    January 9, 2018
    8:00 pm, ESPNU
    No. 22 Ole Miss W 85–70  15–1
    (3–0)
     16  Murray  9  McLemore  4  Harper  Auburn Arena (9,121)
    Auburn, AL
    January 13, 2018
    2:30 pm, SECN
    No. 22 at Mississippi State W 76–68  16–1
    (4–0)
     23  Brown  9  Murray  4  Harper  Humphrey Coliseum (8,443)
    Starkville, MS
    January 17, 2018
    6:00 pm, SECN
    No. 17 at Alabama
    Alabama–Auburn men's basketball rivalry
    L 71–76  16–2
    (4–1)
     12  Brown  10  Murray  5  Mitchell  Coleman Coliseum (15,383)
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    January 20, 2018
    5:00 pm, SECN
    No. 17 Georgia W 79–65  17–2
    (5–1)
     28  Brown  8  McLemore  6  Harper  Auburn Arena (9,121)
    Auburn, AL
    January 24, 2018
    8:00 pm, SECN
    No. 19 at Missouri W 91–73  18–2
    (6–1)
     21  Harper  12  Heron  6  Harper  Mizzou Arena (15,061)
    Columbia, MO
    January 27, 2018
    5:00 pm, SECN
    No. 19 LSU W 95–70  19–2
    (7–1)
     21  Heron  9  Heron  8  Harper  Auburn Arena (9,121)
    Auburn, AL
    January 30, 2018
    8:00 pm, SECN
    No. 11 at Ole Miss W 79–70  20–2
    (8–1)
     23  Brown  10  Murray  7  Harper  The Pavilion at Ole Miss (8,043)
    Oxford, MS
    February 3, 2018
    7:30 pm, SECN
    No. 11 Vanderbilt W 93–81  21–2
    (9–1)
     25  Brown  5  Tied  14  Harper  Auburn Arena (9,121)
    Auburn, AL
    February 7, 2018
    8:00 pm, ESPN2
    No. 8 Texas A&M L 80–81  21–3
    (9–2)
     28  Heron  4  Tied  8  Harper  Auburn Arena (7,631)
    Auburn, AL
    February 10, 2018
    2:30 pm, SECN
    No. 8 at Georgia W 78–61  22–3
    (10–2)
     24  Harper  7  Murray  7  Harper  Stegeman Coliseum (10,523)
    Athens, GA
    February 14, 2018
    8:00 pm, ESPN2
    No. 10 Kentucky W 76–66  23–3
    (11–2)
     18  Tied  11  Tied  7  Harper  Auburn Arena (9,121)
    Auburn, AL
    February 17, 2018
    2:30 pm, SECN
    No. 10 at South Carolina L 75–84  23–4
    (11–3)
     16  Heron  9  Okeke  2  Okeke  Colonial Life Arena (14,995)
    Columbia, SC
    February 21, 2018
    7:30 pm, SECN
    No. 12 Alabama W 90–71  24–4
    (12–3)
     21  Harper  10  Okeke  6  Harper  Auburn Arena (9,121)
    Auburn, AL
    February 24, 2018
    7:30 pm, SECN
    No. 12 at Florida L 66–72  24–5
    (12–4)
     22  Heron  10  Okeke  5  Brown  O'Connell Center (10,503)
    Gainesville, FL
    February 27, 2018
    8:00 pm, SECN
    No. 14 at Arkansas L 82–91  24–6
    (12–5)
     28  Heron  10  Okeke  5  Harper  Bud Walton Arena (15,733)
    Fayetteville, AR
    March 3, 2018
    2:30 pm, SECN
    No. 14 South Carolina W 79–70  25–6
    (13–5)
     29  Brown  9  Okeke  8  Harper  Auburn Arena (9,121)
    Auburn, AL
    SEC Tournament
    March 9, 2018
    12:00 pm, ESPN
    (1) No. 16 vs. (9) Alabama
    Quarterfinals
    L 63–81  25–7
     18  Heron  8  Murray  4  Harper  Scottrade Center (16,364)
    St. Louis, MO
    NCAA Tournament
    March 16, 2018
    6:27 pm, truTV
    (4 MW) No. 19 vs. (13 MW) College of Charleston
    First Round
    W 62–58  26–7
     16  Heron  9  Okeke  2  Tied  Viejas Arena (10,092)
    San Diego, CA
    March 18, 2018
    6:10 pm, TBS
    (4 MW) No. 19 vs. (5 MW) No. 20 Clemson
    Second Round
    L 53–84  26–8
     12  Tied  9  Spencer  3  Okeke  Viejas Arena (11,628)
    San Diego, CA
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. MW=Midwest.
    All times are in Central Time.

    Rankings

    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
    Week
    Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Final 
    AP RV RV RV 22 17 19 11 8 10 12 14 16 19 
    Coaches RV RV 24 20 19 13 9 11 13 15 21 23

    *AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings

    References

    1. "2017-18 Auburn Tigers Schedule and Results". Retrieved 18 April 2019.
    2. "NCAA coaches among 10 arrested for corruption". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
    3. "FBI arrests four college basketball assistants on charges of fraud". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
    4. "Chuck Person suspended without pay following arrest; university 'saddened, angry'". AL.com. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
    5. "Chuck Person indicted by federal grand jury, fired by Auburn". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
    6. "Auburn holding out Danjel Purifoy and Austin Wiley indefinitely amid FBI probe". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
    7. rpowell (2018-01-11). "Wiley eligible for 2018-19 season". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
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