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Auburn basketball: Starting lineup options for 2020-2021 season

By Cody Williams

AUBURN, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 08: Devan Cambridge #35 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after their 91-90 overtime win over the LSU Tigers at Auburn Arena on February 08, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 08: Devan Cambridge #35 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after their 91-90 overtime win over the LSU Tigers at Auburn Arena on February 08, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Auburn basketball roster
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Worst-case scenario

  • Point Guard: Sharife Cooper
  • Shooting Guard: Devan Cambridge
  • Forward: Allen Flanigan
  • Forward: Jaylin Williams
  • Center: Babatunde Akingbola

In the worst-case scenario, we’re looking at a version of Auburn basketball that is very much dependent on Cooper in his freshman season. A high school teammate of Okoro’s, The 6-foot-0 guard was the player of the year in Georgia this past year after averaging 27.2 points, 8.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 4.3 steals per game. He’s not only a playmaker for himself but for his teammates as well in addition to being a quick, tenacious defender.

Should a worst-case scenario ensue, the Tigers would not add another recruit — specifically Green or Brown — to the roster and would also lose Okoro to the NBA. That means four players who played their part but were ultimately only the floor for under 15 minutes per game last season will step into starting roles.

We already covered Akingbola has a ton of growth ahead and, frankly, he could see limited minutes in favor of a small-ball lineup featuring three-star freshman power forward Chris Moore moving to center. Outside of him, though, the Tigers will need to see more consistent production from the rest as well.

Cambridge showcased his upside with 20-point outings in the 2019-20 season while Williams is a former top-120 recruit that was buried in the rotation. Subsequently, they would be expected to rise up alongside Cooper and be the No. 2 and 3 options. Flanigan is the least heralded but, given more opportunity, Pearl has shown his ability to coax production out of veteran players.

Even the worst-case scenario for Auburn basketball and the starting lineup has potential but the difference between this lineup and the best-case scenario is the difference of Sweet 16 hopes and hopes of being in the Final Four for the second time in three years.

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