Dunans thinks it's 'disrespectful' being picked 11th in SEC

AUBURN | There are some high expectations for Bruce Pearl’s third team at Auburn. The Tigers brought in a top 20 recruiting class and return several key players from last year.

But the media didn’t see it that way Wednesday at SEC Media Days. A select panel of both SEC and national media members picked Auburn to finish 11th in the conference this season.

“I was kind of mad about the 11. I think that's disrespectful,” senior guard T.J. Dunans said. “We're 11th in the SEC so there's only one way up. We're just going to take it game by game and keep winning.”

Houston graduate transfer Ronnie Johnson came to Auburn with the express goal of making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his career. The senior remains confident that the Tigers have the talent to be a Tournament team this season.

“I was really surprised by the ranking,” Johnson said. “That's going to be some motivation for our guys. We've just got to keep working to show them the real us.”

Auburn, which was 11-20 overall and 5-13 in the SEC last season, will be counting on several young players to fill key roles.

“This is the youngest team I’ve ever had,” Pearl said. “We’re going to start a freshman at power forward for sure and his backup is a freshman. We might start a sophomore at center that’s 215 pounds. So we’re light, but I like our team. I like our depth.

“I think where we’re picked is just a function of the fact that the league is pretty good throughout. Our league is not good enough at the top and that is one of the challenges. We need four or five teams every year to step up and win big non-conference games, get in the Tournament. But between 5-14, we’re as good as any league. I think where we’re picked is a reflection of the rest of the league and not so much a reflection of us because I like my team.”

SEC MEDIA PICKS

1. Kentucky

2. Florida

3. Texas A&M

4. Georgia

5. Arkansas

6. Vanderbilt

7. Alabama

8. South Carolina

9. Ole Miss

10. Mississippi State

11. Auburn

12. LSU

13. Tennessee

14. Missouri