ESPN’s Andraya Carter believes Auburn basketball is a superior product to Duke this season. Carter shared as much during Saturday’s edition of ESPN’s “College GameDay” before the Tigers defeated Georgia and the Blue Devils beat Boston College
The reason? Duke is too reliant on Cooper Flagg, while Bruce Pearl’s Tigers play the game the right way.
Butler Bulldogs vs. No. 19 UConn Huskies Highlights | FOX College Hoops
ESPN’s Andraya Carter believes Auburn basketball is a superior product to Duke this season. Carter shared as much during Saturday’s edition of ESPN’s “College GameDay” before the Tigers defeated Georgia and the Blue Devils beat Boston College.
The reason? Duke is too reliant on Cooper Flagg, while Bruce Pearl’s Tigers play the game the right way.
“I love this Duke team. I love the way they play. They have this system offensively, but to me, everything still surrounds Cooper Flagg,” Carter said, per Saturday Down South. “They have a ton of talent, but who creates for that talent? Cooper Flagg creates for everybody. He is the centerpiece for everything … more often than not, they rely on Cooper Flagg.
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing (that Duke doesn’t play through a ball-dominant guard). Even when you talk about a team being full-strength … there’s still in-game slippage, there’s still having an off night, there’s still foul trouble, and to me, Auburn is the best team because they have the most depth to withstand those in-game obstacles.”
Auburn may have a better overall team, but they’ll lose their No. 1 ranking if they lose to Tennessee and Duke handles business against Wake Forest this coming Saturday.
“…the Tigers’ showdown with UT will provide our latest edition of Pearl coaching against the school he led to a No. 1 ranking in February 2008. Now, Pearl has Auburn ranked No. 1 for the second time in a four-year span, enhancing his Hall of Fame-worthy credentials. But Pearl will likely have to beat his old school Saturday to keep that No. 1 ranking — especially with Duke, the only team that’s beaten Auburn so far this season, on a 12-game winning streak that has the Blue Devils up to No. 2 in the Top 25 And 1,” CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish wrote.
If AU can finish ahead in the standings come Selection Sunday, potentially locking down their conference title in the process, the Tigers won’t have to worry about Duke finishing a higher seed — regardless of whether or not there’s a setback Saturday.
Without Johni Broome, Auburn is proving that there’s strength in numbers. With Flagg, Duke is a one-man show that will only go as far as the 18-year-old takes them.
Leave a Reply