Furman vs. Auburn (Charity Scrimmage)
Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
Streaming: N/A
Furman will end its offseason in style, with a top 15 team arriving in Greenville for a charity scrimmage on Sunday. The Paladins welcome the Auburn Tigers to Bon Secours Wellness Arena for a charity scrimmage, with proceeds going to benefit the City of Greenville’s park restoration project. Coach Richey’s squad and the Tigers held a secret scrimmage before last season, and took on UNC-Asheville this season, but will have the chance to test itself in a more public setting this time. Neither team will come into this matchup with a lot of expectations, but it is an opportunity for both to make a statement.
Auburn Overview
Auburn finished last season with a record of 27-8 and 13-5 in the SEC. Despite a successful season, they flamed out early in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to 13 seed Yale. The Tigers are looking to improve on that record and make a deep run into the tournament after 3 seasons of failing to pass the second round.
Key Performers
Johni Broome: Broome (16.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.2 APG), will certainly be the focal point of the offense, providing versatility from the stretch 4 position as he shot over 35% from beyond the arc last season. He will also anchor the defense, with an astounding 2.2 blocks per game last year.
JP Pegues: Furman legend JP Pegues transferred to Auburn this summer. Fans will be familiar with Pegues’ talent and the scoring threat that he adds to the Tigers, after averaging over 18 points last season. JP will definitely want to make an impression in his return to Greenville.
Tahaad Pettiford: Auburn is loaded with guards, but Pettiford might be the most talented of all. A top 30 recruit, Pettiford brings speed and athleticism in the guard spot that the Paladins will not see outside of a trip to Kansas later this year.
For Furman
What to look for
Furman will not come into this game with a lot of expectations on the result, but Bob Richey will be happy to try different lineups and see his team take on high level competition. Those that can attend the matchup should keep an eye on a few things.
Point Guard: With the exit of Pegues, the starting point guard spot has opened up. Has Eddrin Bronson earned the spot in practice? PJay Smith could also run point, with an experienced two guard like Nick Anderson sliding in to the shooting guard role.
Cooper Bowser: Furman fans are high on Cooper Bowser, and this could be the year he takes a leap. His availability in the post and his work on the defensive end could impact this game and the rest of the season.
Transfers: Nick Anderson, Tom House, and Charles Johnston are likely to play a big role in the upcoming season. Though Coach Richey will play a lot of lineup combinations, the role of each transfer should be noted.
Once again, this game is only a scrimmage, but it can help show a lot of the possible lineup combinations and give a great litmus test for both teams.