Bruce Pearl speculates why Auburn's offense could be improved

With Denver Jones sliding into Zap Jasper’s old starting spot, Bruce Pearl expects a step up on offense and a step back on defense.

At a recent summer press conference, Pearl noted that “Denver is the likely candidate to replace Zep” after Jasper started all 66 games he played in for the Tigers over the last two seasons. Meanwhile, Jones comes over from FIU, where he averaged 20 points a season ago.

Jasper averaged just 2.8. And even with the sharp increase in competition and athleticism in the SEC, Jones figures to be a more productive and fluent piece of the Auburn offense.

“We will be better offensively, and that’s not a knock on Zep,” Pearl stated bluntly. “It’s just that Denver Jones could probably be a candidate for one of our top two or three scorers, without question.”

Pearl then listed all the skills that make the 6-4 transfer a weapon on the offensive side of the ball.

“A great shooter with great range, an ability to get downhill and score through contact, he’ll get to the foul line, a good passer, a really solid defender.”

Though, not as pesky a defender as Jasper, who won his starting spot thanks to his hounding ball pressure, especially against opposing point guards. Pearl says Jones, nor any Tiger player, would be able to replace what Zep Jasper brought to that side of the ball.

“We will not be able to have a better on-ball defender on the floor than Zep Jasper, no matter who we put out there,” declared the Auburn coach.

“Yeah, KD Johnson, at times, I think definitely can be as disruptive or actually more disruptive, but not to be the hound or the dog that Zep was every single possession making it difficult for teams to start their offense. So I don’t know that we’ll be better defensively.”

With Denver Jones likely taking over Jasper’s starting spot, Bruce Pearl says to expect more of an offensive spark while the team’s defensive pressure takes a step down. Meanwhile, he also believes imports like Jones are underrated for the Tigers.

“Denver, our transfers were not nearly as heralded, I think, from a recruiting standpoint as I think a lot of transfers were.”

Jones is obviously an ace as a former 20-point-per-game scorer. But Johni Broome was a tremendous addition last season and will likely be the top player on this year’s team. Plus, they added Chaney Johnson, a fairly unknown Div. II player who could pop for Auburn this season as a wing on a team that’s lacking them.