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A spirit that is not afraid

Auburn center Austin Wiley 'getting closer' with elite South Carolina frontcourt looming

Austin Wiley (50) during Auburn Men's Basketball vs. Missouri on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Auburn, Ala.
Austin Wiley (50) during Auburn Men's Basketball vs. Missouri on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Auburn, Ala.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Austin Wiley is nearly there for Auburn in the SEC Tournament.

Wiley, Auburn's junior center who has missed the team's last five games after re-aggravating his lower right leg injury in a loss last month to Kentucky, was fully dressed out before the Tigers' Round 2 win over Missouri in Nashville on Thursday. 

He went through normal warmups and shoot-arounds as if he was ready to contribute a few minutes like he did when first recovering from the leg injury in early February. But the former five-star prospect remained on the bench throughout, even with foul trouble early for forward Chuma Okeke and often for center Anfernee McLemore.

Bruce Pearl said Wiley was available in an emergency after participating in his first contact practice in a few weeks prior to the team leaving for Nashville.

"He's getting closer," Pearl said. "But I thought Anfernee (McLemore) and Horace (Spencer) at this time of the year here right now are playing well together, playing well, complementing each other. I think Austin, he's getting closer to being available. Right now, Anfernee and Horace are doing a nice job."

Spencer, who saw extended playing time from the bench with the frontcourt foul trouble, had a monster afternoon with 11 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and four blocks.

Pearl hopes for another strong effort from Spencer and less bench time for his starters today against South Carolina. The Gamecocks dominated Auburn in their regular season win this year as 2018-19 All-SEC and All-Defensive team forward Chris Silva feasted under the rim with 32 points and 14 rebounds. 

It was Auburn's first SEC tilt of the year without Wiley, and without him, Silva forced both McLemore and Spencer to foul out with just under eight minutes left to play.

So, obviously, Auburn would love to have Wiley, a near-7-footer with some of the best rim protecting ability in the conference, against Silva. 

But wanting their starting center healthy is nothing new for the Tigers.

"We've needed Wiley all year," Pearl said. "... A healthy Austin Wiley would be dominating out there. He's as good as any center in the league. Not only getting healthy, it's having your first contact practice, it's actually having several practices so that you can get timing. It's tough in March."


Nathan King | Sports Editor

Nathan King, senior in journalism with a minor in business, is The Plainsman's sports editor.


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