Field Level Media
22 Nov 2022, 05:55 GMT+10
No. 13 Auburn will look to extend its season-opening winning streak to five games when it takes on high-scoring Bradley in the eight-team Cancun Challenge in Mexico on Tuesday evening.
A deep playing rotation and strong defense, especially in the post, has sparked the Tigers' fast start. Auburn (4-0), from the Southeastern Conference, is averaging 80.5 points per game over its past two outings and was tied for first in the nation in blocked shots (36) entering Monday's games.
A big reason for Auburn's offensive production has been the play of Wendell Green Jr., Allen Flanigan, K.D Johnson and Johni Broome.
Green is the team's leading scorer (14 points per game) and top assist man (4 per game), but Flanigan has been tremendous off the bench (8 ppg, 4 rebounds per game). Johnson (8.5 ppg, 1.8 apg) and Broome (11 ppg, 9 rpg) also have been reliable scorers in coach Bruce Pearl's deep playing rotation.
Defensively, Broome and Dylan Cardwell have been terrific in the post. Broome is averaging three blocks per game, while Cardwell is averaging 4.3.
Broome (bone bruise) didn't play in Auburn's 72-56 win over Texas Southern on Friday after he injured his knee in an 89-65 win over Winthrop on Nov. 15. Broome is expected to play against the Braves.
Chris Moore picked up the slack in Broome's absence by getting a season-high 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes.
"It was just being confident, just trusting in my abilities and my coach's belief," Moore said.
"Chris Moore played really well," Pearl said. "He's a team favorite, a fan favorite because he's a great kid, works so hard and has been so unselfish waiting his turn. It's good to see him play with confidence."
Bradley (3-1), from the Missouri Valley Conference, enters the Cancun Challenge averaging 79.3 points per game.
The Braves have six players who average double figures in scoring, but they will be playing without their top player, Ja'Shon Henry, when they take on the Tigers. Henry is averaging 13 points, 6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, but he suffered the fourth concussion of his career in Bradley's 73-60 comeback win over Southeast Missouri State on Saturday.
"I have to report Ja'Shon Henry has a very mild concussion and will not be going with us to Cancun," Bradley coach Brian Wardle said. "That's all I'm consumed with and care about, his career and well-being."
Malevy Leons likely will have to pick up the slack in Henry's absence. Leons is the Braves' second-leading scorer (11 ppg) and top rebounder (6.8 rpg).
Duke Deen (10 ppg, 3.3 apg), Connor Hickman (10 ppg, 2 apg), Ville Tahvanainen (10.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and Zek Montgomery (10.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg) are other consistent scoring options.
The Tigers and Braves will play in the Rivera Division, along with Northwestern and Liberty.
Purdue Fort Wayne, Eastern Michigan, Southern Miss and Winthrop are in the Mayan Division.
Tuesday's game will be the third all-time meeting between Auburn and Bradley. The last time was in the 1988 NCAA Tournament, when Auburn won 90-86.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of St Louis Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to St Louis Star.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - The U.S. was alone on Friday in a 13-1 vote for a ceasefire in the ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The Associated Press (AP) reported that Manuel Rocha, a former American diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to ...
MADISON, Wisconsin: On November 30, Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury from Wisconsin pleaded guilty to firebombing a conservative anti-abortion group's office on ...
An Israeli tank crew killed a Reuters journalist and wounded six reporters in Lebanon on Oct. 13 by firing two ...
WASHINGTON DC - In a major blow to U.S. President Joe Biden, less that a year out from the November ...
TOKYO, Japan: This week, the U.S. Air Force said that divers have discovered the wreckage and the remains of five ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: To fix issues that could lead to further bank failures in the U.S., such as the collapse of ...
ARLINGTON, Virginia: This week, Reuters reported that Boeing delivered 46 narrowbody 737s jets in November. The total brings the U.S. ...
NEW YORK, New York - A positive employment report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicating a fall in ...
DALLAS, Texas: This week, AT&T said that by late 2026, it will use open radio access network (ORAN) technology for ...
NEW YORK: This week, ratings agency Moody's warned that it could downgrade China's credit rating, citing costs to bail out ...
NEW YORK, New York - AI set the scene for solid gains in technology shares on Thursday. Demand for Alphabet ...