Andraya Carter of ESPN thinks Auburn basketball is better than Duke this year. Carter said as much on Saturday’s “College GameDay” on ESPN, prior to the Blue Devils defeating Boston College and the Tigers defeating Georgia
Why? Bruce Pearl’s Tigers play the game correctly, but Duke depends too much on Cooper Flagg.
“I really like this Duke team and how they play. Their offensive system is strong, but for me, it all centers around Cooper Flagg,” Carter said, as reported by Saturday Down South.
“They have a lot of talent, but the key question is, who organizes that talent? Cooper Flagg is the one who makes it all work. He’s the focal point, and more often than not, they rely heavily on him.
“I’m not sure it’s ideal that Duke doesn’t have a ball-dominant guard. Even with a fully healthy roster, teams face in-game setbacks, off nights, and foul trouble. In my opinion, Auburn is the best team because they have the depth to handle those challenges.”
Auburn might have the stronger overall team, but their No. 1 ranking could slip if they lose to Tennessee and Duke takes care of business against Wake Forest this Saturday.
“…the Tigers’ matchup with Tennessee will offer another chapter of Bruce Pearl facing the program he led to a No. 1 ranking back in February 2008. Now, Pearl has Auburn sitting at No. 1 for the second time in four years, further solidifying his Hall of Fame-worthy resume.
However, to maintain that top spot, Pearl will likely need to beat his former team — especially with Duke, the only team to defeat Auburn this season, riding a 12-game winning streak that has elevated them to No. 2 in the Top 25 And 1 rankings,” wrote CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish.
If Auburn can stay ahead in the standings by Selection Sunday, possibly securing a conference title along the way, they won’t have to worry about Duke claiming a higher seed — regardless of any potential setbacks this weekend.
Without Johni Broome, Auburn is proving the value of depth and teamwork. Meanwhile, Duke, led by Cooper Flagg, relies heavily on their young star, making them a one-man show that will only go as far as the 18-year-old can carry them.
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