2016–17 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team

2016–17 Auburn Tigers men's basketball
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record18–14 (7–11 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaAuburn Arena
Seasons
2016–17 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 5 Kentucky † 16 – 2   .889 32 – 6   .842
No. 10 Florida 14 – 4   .778 27 – 9   .750
Arkansas 12 – 6   .667 26 – 10   .722
No. 6 South Carolina 12 – 6   .667 26 – 11   .703
Ole Miss 10 – 8   .556 22 – 14   .611
Alabama 10 – 8   .556 19 – 15   .559
Vanderbilt 10 – 8   .556 19 – 16   .543
Georgia 9 – 9   .500 19 – 15   .559
Texas A&M 8 – 10   .444 16 – 15   .516
Tennessee 8 – 10   .444 16 – 16   .500
Auburn 7 – 11   .389 18 – 14   .563
Mississippi State 6 – 12   .333 16 – 16   .500
LSU 2 – 16   .111 10 – 21   .323
Missouri 2 – 16   .111 8 – 24   .250
† 2017 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2016–17 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team represented Auburn University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team's head coach was Bruce Pearl, in his third season at Auburn. The team played their home games at the Auburn Arena in Auburn, Alabama as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the 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.

Previous season

The Tigers finished the season 11–20, 5–13 in SEC play to finish in 13th place. They lost to Tennessee in the first round of the SEC tournament.

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Kareem Canty 1 G 6'1" 185 RS Junior Harlem, NY Declare for 2016 NBA draft
Cinmeon Bowers 5 F 6'7" 250 Senior Racine, WI Graduated
Tyler Harris 12 F 6'10" 228 RS Senior Dix Hills, NY Graduated
Tahj Shamsid-Deen 13 G 5'9" 175 Junior Decatur, GA Retired from basketball due to past injuries
Jonathan Walker 20 G 6'3" 197 Senior Madison, WI Walk-on; graduated
Zach Allison 22 G 6'2" 166 Freshman Pelham, AL Walk-on; transferred to Wallace State CC
Jordon Granger 25 F 6'8" 220 Senior St. Louis, MO Graduated
Cole Stockton 42 G 6'4" 195 Senior Auburn, AL Walk-on; graduated
New Williams 44 G 6'2 175 Sophomore Inglewood, CA Left team mid-season
Trayvon Reed 50 C 7'2" 245 Sophomore Mobile, AL Transferred to Texas Southern

Incoming Transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
LaRon Smith 12 F 6'8" 215 RS Senior Palm Bay, FL Transferred from Bethune-Cookman.
Will be eligible to play immediately due to graduating from Bethune-Cookman.
DeSean Murray 13 F 6'5" 225 Junior Stanley, NC Transferred from Presbyterian. Under NCAA transfer rules,
Murray will have to sit out for the 2016–17 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.
Ronnie Johnson 35 G 6'0" 180 RS Senior Indianapolis, IN Transferred from Houston.
Will be eligible to play immediately due to graduating from Houston.

Recruits

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Mustapha Heron
#4 SG 		West Haven, CT Sacred Heart High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Aug 16, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars
Austin Wiley
#6 C 		Birmingham, AL Spain Park High School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Sep 26, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars
Jared Harper
#18 PG 		Atlanta, GA Pebblebrook High School 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Mar 14, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Anfernee McLemore
#31 PF 		Sylvester, GA Worth County High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Aug 4, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
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 2016 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  • "2016 Auburn Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  • "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  • "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 23, 2016.

Future recruits

2017–18 team recruits

College recruiting information
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 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Davion Mitchell
PG 		Hinesville, GA Liberty County School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Oct 15, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
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:

Roster

2016–17 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Horace Spencer 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Findlay Prep Warminster, PA
G 1 Jared Harper 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Pebblebrook Mableton, GA
G 2 Bryce Brown 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Tucker Stone Mountain, GA
F 3 Danjel Purifoy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Fr Hargrave Military Academy Centerville, AL
G 4 T. J. Dunans 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 174 lb (79 kg) RS Sr Columbia State CC Atlanta, GA
G 5 Mustapha Heron 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr Martin Luther King Jr.
Sacred Heart 		Waterbury, CT
F 10 Heath Huff (W) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Fr Lee Scott Academy Auburn, AL
F 12 LaRon Smith 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) RS Sr Heritage
Bethune-Cookman 		Palm Bay, FL
F 13 DeSean Murray Current redshirt 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Northside
Presbyterian 		Stanley, NC
G 21 Patrick Keim (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 186 lb (84 kg) Jr Mountain Brook Birmingham, AL
G 22 Will Macoy (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Vestavia Hills Birmingham, AL
G 23 T. J. Lang 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr McGill Toolen Mobile, AL
F 24 Anfernee McLemore 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Worth County Warwick, GA
G 25 Mike Cohen (W) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr Bishop Eustance Voorhees, NJ
F 31 Devin Waddell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Sr Hargrave Military Academy Summerfield, NC
G 35 Ronnie Johnson 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS Sr North Central
Houston 		Indianapolis, IN
C 41 Cole Blackstock (W) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 253 lb (115 kg) So Brooks Killen, AL
C 50 Austin Wiley 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Fr Spain Park Hoover, AL
F 52 Trey Tate (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So Rehobeth 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
11/04/2016*
8:30 pm 		Montevallo W 96–68  –
  26 – Heron   7 – Purifoy   3 – Spencer  Auburn Arena (8,187)
Auburn, AL
Regular season
11/11/2016*
8:30 pm, SECN+ 		North Florida W 83–66  1–0
  19 – Brown   7 – Smith   4 – Dunans  Auburn Arena (8,093)
Auburn, AL
11/14/2016*
8:00 pm, SECN 		Georgia State
Cancún Challenge 		W 83–65  2–0
  19 – Purifoy   8 – Heron   5 – Johnson  Auburn Arena (6,980)
Auburn, AL
11/17/2016*
8:00 pm, SECN 		Eastern Kentucky
Cancún Challenge 		W 85–64  3–0
  24 – Heron   10 – Heron   4 – Johnson  Auburn Arena (6,987)
Auburn, AL
11/22/2016*
5:00 pm, CBSSN 		vs. Texas Tech
Cancún Challenge semifinals 		W 67–65  4–0
  15 – Heron   6 – Purifoy   5 – Purifoy  Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya (1,610)
Cancún, Mexico
11/23/2016*
7:30 pm, CBSSN 		vs. No. 17 Purdue
Cancún Challenge Championship 		L 71–96  4–1
  22 – Purifoy   8 – Heron   4 – Dunans  Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya (1,610)
Cancún, Mexico
11/29/2016*
7:00 pm, SECN+ 		USC Upstate W 90–83  5–1
  23 – Heron   6 – Heron   9 – Purifoy  Auburn Arena (6,504)
Auburn, AL
12/03/2016*
7:30 pm, beIN 		at UAB
Rivalry 		W 74–70  6–1
  21 – Harper   7 – Heron   3 – Harper  Bartow Arena (8,728)
Birmingham, AL
12/12/2016*
6:00 pm, FS1 		vs. Boston College
Under Armour Reunion 		L 71–72  6–2
  27 – Purifoy   7 – Heron   3 – Harper  Madison Square Garden (7,558)
New York City, NY
12/15/2016*
8:00 pm, SECN 		Coastal Carolina W 117–72  7–2
  27 – Purifoy   8 – McLemore   7 – Harper  Auburn Arena (7,333)
Auburn, AL
12/18/2016*
12:00 pm, SECN 		Mercer W 76–74  8–2
  21 – Heron   6 – Purifoy   5 – Johnson  Auburn Arena (7,991)
Auburn, AL
12/21/2016*
7:30 pm, CBSSN 		vs. Oklahoma
Basketball Hall of Fame's Birthday of Basketball 		W 74–70  9–2
  21 – Tied   12 – Heron   5 – Dunans  Mohegan Sun Arena (3,462)
Uncasville, CT
12/23/2016*
1:30 pm, ESPN2 		at UConn W 70–67 OT 10–2
  22 – Harper   15 – Purifoy   5 – Harper  XL Center (12,051)
Hartford, CT
12/29/2016
6:00 pm, ESPNU 		Georgia L 84–96  10–3
(0–1) 		 19 – Heron   7 – McLemore   6 – Harper  Auburn Arena (9,121)
Auburn, AL
01/04/2017
6:00 pm, SECN 		at Vanderbilt L 61–80  10–4
(0–2) 		 19 – Harper   6 – Tied   3 – Purifoy  Memorial Gymnasium (9,918)
Nashville, TN
01/07/2017
5:00 pm, SECN 		Ole Miss L 85–88  10–5
(0–3) 		 24 – Harper   9 – Wiley   3 – Johnson  Auburn Arena (9,121)
Auburn, AL
01/10/2017
6:00 pm, SECN 		at Missouri W 77–72  11–5
(1–3) 		 16 – Heron   9 – Heron   4 – Johnson  Mizzou Arena (9,688)
Columbia, MO
01/14/2017
3:00 pm, ESPN 		at No. 6 Kentucky L 72−92  11−6
(1−4) 		 23 – Dunans   3 – Tied   3 – Johnson  Rupp Arena (24,372)
Lexington, KY
01/18/2017
7:30 pm, SECN 		LSU W 78−74  12−6
(2−4) 		 12 – Tied   7 – Spencer   3 – Dunans  Auburn Arena (8,327)
Auburn, AL
01/21/2017
3:00 pm, ESPN2 		Alabama
Rivalry 		W 84–64  13−6
(3−4) 		 19 – Wiley   9 – Wiley   3 – Harper  Auburn Arena (9,121)
Auburn, AL
01/24/2017
5:30 pm, SECN 		at No. 23 South Carolina L 69−98  13−7
(3−5) 		 18 – McLemore   11 – Wiley   3 – Dunans  Colonial Life Arena (14,356)
Columbia, SC
01/28/2017*
5:00 pm, ESPNU 		at TCU
Big 12/SEC Challenge 		W 88−80  14−7
  25 – Wiley   7 – Dunans   7 – Dunans  Schollmaier Arena (6,874)
Fort Worth, TX
01/31/2017
8:00 pm, SECN 		Tennessee L 77–87  14–8
(3−6) 		 21 – Harper   11 – McLemore   2 – Tied  Auburn Arena (7,525)
Auburn, AL
02/04/2017
7:30 pm, SECN 		at Alabama
Rivalry 		W 82–77  15−8
(4−6) 		 15 – Johnson   8 – McLemore   3 – Brown  Coleman Coliseum (15,383)
Tuscaloosa, AL
02/07/2017
8:00 pm, ESPNU 		Mississippi State W 98−92  16−8
(5−6) 		 18 – Brown   6 – Dunans   8 – Johnson  Auburn Arena (7,050)
Auburn, AL
02/11/2017
5:00 pm, SECN 		at Ole Miss L 84−90  16−9
(5−7) 		 18 – Johnson   8 – McLemore   8 – Johnson  The Pavilion at Ole Miss (8,280)
Oxford, MS
02/14/2017
6:00 pm, SECN 		No. 15 Florida L 95−114  16−10
(5−8) 		 19 – McLemore   6 – Tied   5 – Brown  Auburn Arena (7,572)
Auburn, AL
02/18/2017
3:00 pm, ESPNU 		at Texas A&M L 62–81  16–11
(5–9) 		 20 – Heron   5 – Heron   4 – Harper  Reed Arena (9,377)
College Station, TX
02/21/2017
6:00 pm, SECN 		at LSU W 98−75  17−11
(6−9) 		 17 – Johnson   9 – Heron   3 – Dunans  Pete Maravich Assembly Center (6,638)
Baton Rouge, LA
02/25/2017
7:30 pm, SECN 		Arkansas L 68−79  17−12
(6−10) 		 17 – Harper   8 – McLemore   3 – Harper  Auburn Arena (8,098)
Auburn, AL
03/01/2017
5:30 pm, SECN 		at Georgia L 78−79  17−13
(6−11) 		 15 – Brown   9 – Heron   6 – Harper  Stegeman Coliseum (7,145)
Athens, GA
03/04/2017
2:30 pm, SECN 		Missouri W 89−78  18−13
(7−11) 		 20 – Heron   6 – McLemore   3 – Harper  Auburn Arena (7,659)
Auburn, AL
SEC Tournament
03/08/2017
8:30 pm, SECN 		(11) vs. (14) Missouri
First Round 		L 83−86 OT 18−14
  15 – Heron   14 – Heron   7 – Harper  Bridgestone Arena (8,567)
Nashville, TN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time. Source[1].

References

  1. ^ "AUBURNTIGERS.COM :: Auburn University Official Athletic Site Auburn University Official Athletic Site :: Men's Basketball". Archived from the original on July 25, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.