But, as the Tigers\u2019 roster reload draws to a close, it\u2019s clear that the next edition of Auburn basketball is more likely to go back to the run-and-gun style that put the program back on the map under Pearl.
For his post-prep career, CBM has shot an even 44% from deep. There will be questions about how a former mid-major player turned JUCO star can transition to the grind of SEC basketball, but there shouldn\u2019t be any question about his ability to shoot.
"If you're talking about winning your league, you have to win your home games and you have to win as many as you can on the road. That's a big part of those past three regular-season titles," he said. "I'm excited to have these young guys; I was worried early in preseason because they weren't responding right to certain things, but they've changed the more we've practiced. It's hard playing college basketball, but they've responded well."
CBS college basketball analyst Seth Davis still expects the league to land four to five teams in the field of 68, though many prognosticators have only three teams in currently. Davis said the Big East is just another good league now, whereas it was previously considered the standard. The league will be watched close once the NCAA Tournament begins to see how it stacks up.
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - Chris Warren scored 24 points as Ole Miss placed four players in double figures Thursday as the Rebels defeated Alcorn State 100-62.
Warren was 8 of 11 from the floor and and added six assists for the Rebels (10-3). Zach Graham scored 18 points, Dundrecous Nelson had a career-high 17 and Demarco Cox added career highs of 11 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double.
Ole Miss played without two starters that are out indefinitely with injuries. Guard Trevor Gaskins is nursing a hamstring injury. Reginald Buckner, the leading rebounder and shot blocker, is sidelined with pain from a knee injury.
Marquiz Baker and Ian Francis led Alcorn State (0-10) with 18 and 17 points, respectively.
Alcorn State was within 25-21 with 6:36 left in the first half as the Rebels struggled early with the revamped lineup. Ole Miss closed with surges of 12-0 and 9-0 to take an insurmountable 49-30 halftime lead.
The Braves never got closer than 15 points in the second half. Ole Miss led by as many as 40 points, the final time on a layup by Will Bogan with 1:22 left.
Ole Miss was 35 of 63 from the field, 56 percent and hit 11 of 25, 44 percent, from three-point range. The Rebels out rebounded Alcorn State 47-27, but committed 16 turnovers.
Alcorn State was 24 of 66, 36 percent, from the field, including 6 of 12 by Francis. The Braves were only 3 of 12, 25 percent, from three-point range.