Ahead of SEC play, Auburn basketball holds one of the nation’s top scoring offenses.
At 11-1, Auburn basketball ranks No. 6 nationally in scoring with 88.4 points per game and is No. 4 in the nation in field goal percentage (51.4%). In SEC terms, that ranks No. 4 and No. 2 respectively. The Tigers also remain the top offense in KenPom with an efficiency of 131.0, over five points higher than the No. 2 team (UConn).
Auburn ranks among the top teams nationally in point differential. The team has secured 11 victories with an average winning margin of 23 points, placing them at No. 5 in the country. Additionally, the Tigers have won their last four games by a margin of at least 18 points.
Every player has contributed to Auburn’s offensive success this season and will aim to play a role in Auburn’s upcoming SEC slate.
Here is a look at Auburn’s top scorers ahead of its final nonconference game, which will be played on Dec. 30 against Monmouth at Neville Arena.
14. CJ Williams
Points per game: 0.5
Williams has appeared in four games this season for the Tigers, totaling five minutes. He scored two points in Auburn’s 102-69 win over North Alabama on Nov. 18.
13. Blake Muschalek
Points per game: 0.6
Muschalek has seen the court a good deal through 12 games by appearing in seven contests, totaling 15 minutes. He has not had many chances to take shots this season, but he has connected on both of his attempts.
12. Presley Patterson
Points per game: 0.7
Patterson has appeared in seven games for the Tigers, but has been held out of the scoring column over his last five games. Patterson scored five total points in Auburn’s wins over Vermont and North Alabama, going 2-3 from the field. He nailed a three-pointer in Auburn’s 102-69 win over North Alabama on Nov. 18.
11. Chris Moore
Points per game: 1.1
As a senior, Moore continues to see adequate action on the floor by averaging 12.1 minutes per contest. He is known more for his rebounding efforts than his shooting stats as his rebounding average is slightly higher than his point average at 1.8. Moore has scored in half of Auburn’s 12 games this season, with his best outing coming in Auburn’s 100-59 win over Georgia State on Dec. 17, when he made a shot from beyond the perimeter for three points.
10. JP Pegues
Points per game: 1.8
Pegues averaged double-figures in scoring during his final two seasons at Furman, but has yet to find similar success on the Plains. In 12 games, Pegues is shooting 22.2% from the field with a bulk of his shots being taken from three-point territory. After scoring eight points in Auburn’s season-opening win over Vermont in November, Pegues has been shut out of the score column six times and has failed to score more than three points in a game.
9. Ja’heim Hudson
Points per game: 1.9
Hudson began his Auburn career on a strange note, but has managed to become a solid bench piece for the Tigers. Hudson has appeared in seven games this season, scoring in four of them. He scored a season-high five points in Auburn’s 91-53 win over Ohio State. He scored four points in Auburn’s 100-59 win over Georgia State after playing a season-high 17 minutes.
8. Dylan Cardwell
Points per game: 5.7
After spending his first four seasons as a role player, Cardwell is finally seeing his hard work and loyalty pay off by earning a starting role. Cardwell has started all 12 games for the Tigers this season, and has reached double-digits in points three times. His best outing of the season took place in the Maui Invitational championship game when he shot 100% from the field (8-8, 1-1 from three) en route to an 18-point outing.
7. Jahki Howard
Points per game: 8.0
True freshman Jahki Howard has not earned a permanent role in the bench rotation yet, but he has made the most of his given time. In six games, Howard has reached double-digits twice. He scored a season-high 13 points in Auburn’s 98-54 win over Richmond on Dec. 8. He logged a season-high 21 minutes in the game.
6. Miles Kelly
Points per game: 9.8
Kelly has been a valued addition to the Tigers roster this season. The Georgia Tech transfer made his presence felt in Auburn’s season-opening win over Vermont on Nov. 6 by scoring 21 points, all from three-point territory. He has scored at least 10 points in six games this season, and has connected on at least four three-point tries three times this season.
5. Chaney Johnson
Points per game: 10.3
Chaney Johnson has been Auburn’s best bench piece to this point of the season. In addition to scoring 10.3 points per game, Johnson is second on the team in rebounds (5.8) and field goal percentage among consistent players (61.4%). His most memorable game of the season to this point is his 26-point, eight rebound game vs. Georgia State, where he filled in beautifully for an injured Johni Broome.
4. Denver Jones
Points per game: 11.3
As the Tigers top-three point shooter, Jones has landed at least three of his three-point opportunities in five games this season. His production from three-point territory has ramped up over his last three games by connecting on 11-of-18 shots from beyond-the-arc.
3. Tahaad Pettiford
Points per game: 11.3
Pettiford is finding a groove as a true freshman by averaging double-figures through 12 games. He scored 21 points in Auburn’s 74-69 win over Houston in November and most recently scored 18 in Auburn’s 87-69 win over Purdue.
2. Chad Baker-Mazara
Points per game: 12.8
Baker-Mazara is currently having his best collegiate season in terms of points (12.8) and field goal percentage (53.4). He held a double-digit scoring streak of seven games this season, and scored a season-best 19 points in Auburn’s 100-59 win over Georgia State.
1. Johni Broome
Points per game: 18.5
Broome should be a candidate for the Naismith College Player of the Year Award after posting outstanding numbers through the first 12 games of the season. Broome averages a double-double per game (18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds), and has scored at least 20 points eight times.
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: A look at Auburn basketball’s top scorers through 12 games
