Auburn: Best Offense Ever?

Some Clips have been removed due to the videos being removed from Youtube

The Auburn Tigers are on pace to claim the most efficient offense in Kenpom history (2002-present). The current crown is held by 2015 Wisconsin who's adjusted offensive efficiency stood at 129.0. This years Auburn's team is at 131.0... while playing the toughest schedule in the country!

Year	Team	ADJ Offensive Efficiency
2025	Auburn	131.0
2015	Wisconsin	129.0
2018	Villanova	127.8
2024	UConn	127.5
2025	Alabama	127.2

If you're wondering what actions and schemes they run, or can't remember who the heck is on this team, maybe you don't think Chaney Johnson is awesome. If any of those are true, well this article is for you!

Flexing On The Country

The flex offense is alive and well in Auburn. They thrive in the basic flex actions that Bruce Pearl has optimized to fit his team.

The flex offense starts with a backscreen for the weak side corner, that action is commonly called a flex screen. For example, this possession uses a guard (Chad Baker-Mazara) to set a flex screen for Johni Broome, forcing a smaller player to guard Broome.

Auburn goes back to flex, Memphis defends Broome better but he still gets the ball. Memphis wants to double him because of his scoring ability. The problem comes with the weakside guard who had to help on Broome, navigate a pin down, then see the double in time to stop Dylan Cardwell. A non-enviable position indeed.

This time on an inbound from the baseline, Auburn goes straight to flex. This time, Broome sets the screen forcing the switch. When Iowa State switches, Broome flashes towards the ball to get a paint touch and scores again versus a smaller player.

The interesting part is how Auburn combines the flex offense with ball screens. Auburn will set their typical flex screen which distracts defenses to an empty ball screen. We will go into more detail about this later!

This is just absurd offense from Auburn. They run their typical flex screen but organically blend that into a roll and replace with Miles Kelly popping behind Broome's roll for a wide open three.

Auburn's Flex 101 - Basics of the Flex

Let's take a step back to break down their offense further, starting with their personnel. Auburn has six double figure scorers. They have four elite shooters along with two fantastic post scorers, not including Dylan Cardwell. More importantly, all of their players can score or pass in every position.

This allows Auburn to alter their offense from game to game based on the defense. Let's breakdown the initial flex screen. Auburn usually starts with a post scorer setting a flex screen for a shooter on the weak side, the players involved changes based on matchups. The two scoring options are the quick layup for the shooter or throwing it to the post flashing to the elbow area.

If nothing is generated from the flex screen, the ball is reversed to setup the next action. This time the shooter is setting or slipping a flex screen before receiving a down screen. The second flex screen doesn't include the option for the elbow flash because of down screen. This actions effectiveness depends on the initial screen forcing his man to tag or switch.

If done correctly, this action allows for players to come up with solutions to every defense. If teams aren't switching, the flex offense makes defenders choose between helping versus back screens and navigating the down screen. Against switching, the offense relies on their post scoring to punish mismatches or slips to confuse defense enough to create more open threes.

This is one of my favorite possessions from Auburn. The Tigers are in flex which Duke recognizes and switches the guard to guard flex screen. Despite doing exactly what they are suppose to do, Duke is still caught behind Chad Baker-Mazara curling the pin, engaging the big which opens Broome's roll.

Auburn's Flex 102 - Ball Screens and Dribble Handoffs

The flex offense is a great offense to run, but Auburn has further weaponized the flex by adding ball screens and handoffs within the flow of the offense. If teams pay too much attention to the flex, it frees up Auburn's ball screen offense.

Later in the game, Houston does a better job containing the ball. This is where the flex offense returns, as CBM sets a flare screen before popping for the catch. The easy catch created by the flex offense gives CBM a window to hit the roller while the hedge is recovering.

Against another aggressive defense, Auburn sets up like their normal flex. One big on the block with another popping to the three point line. Yet, instead of running flex, Auburn goes to a roll and replace to look for the lob for the roller. Against any hard hedge, Auburn wants to move the ball as soon as possible, something aided by their trust in the big guys to make decisions.

Vanderbilt tried dropping their big off of Cardwell to clog the paint. It disrupts the flex action but Cardwell goes into a DHO with Denver Jones (43% from 3) versus a forced drop coverage.

The attention to detail shown from every Auburn player allows them to add in these variations of flex melded with ball screen offense. Against Oklahoma, Auburn uses the flex alignment to setup Spain action (guard setting backscreen for the roller). The setup and action from all four players distracts help and gives CBM a one on one opportunity.

After timeouts, Auburn can reach deep into their bag for sets like this one. Auburn starts with flex but turns it into a decoy blind pig that sets up a gut zoom action. Duke does a great job but they allow an offensive rebound... three points for Auburn.

Auburn's flex offense reads and actions depends on what the defense does. Duke is switching between the guards which triggers the guards to slip all their screens. The slip causes Proctor to be behind Pettiford as he uses this middle zoom action from Broome.

The final ball screen usage comes if flex action doesn't generate a shot. Auburn runs a lot of ball screens or isolations in late clock situations. Often isolating a big as they roll but they can also bury heavily contested 30 footers.

Auburn's Flex Offense - Review

1. The offense starts with a slot to slot pass (pick and pop versus pressure)

2. The first read comes from the weakside flex screen

   1. Pass the ball to the cutter switching sides

   2. Find the screener flashing to the elbow for an isolation opportunity

3. After the flex screen, we have two options based on where the ball goes

   1. Throw it back to the guard to initiate the screen the screener action

   2. If the ball goes to the wing, the big sets an away screen for the point guard. This initiates two man action while the wing player receives a flare screen.

4. If the ball goes back to the point guard and no options are open from the flex action.

   1. The first look is for mismatches that can be exploited.

   2. The second option is a high ball screen with the floor spaced.

Quick Hitters

There's going to be a ton of sets from this point on!

Cross Screen Post-Up

Fake Cross Screen Post-Up

Overload Post Lob

Ball Screen Slip (vs Hard Hedge)

Backdoor

Backdoor to Flex

UCLA Post Isolation

Horns Clear Isolation

Baseline Gortat Isolation

UCLA Gortat Isolation (Maybe a lob?)

Pin Down Ghost (or 41 action)

Pick and Roll Short Roll Isolation

Decoy Flex Stagger

Decoy BS Veer

Zoom Twirl

Zoom Twirl Veer

77

Chin PnR (vs drop)

Iverson PnR Reject

Horns PnR Exit

Auburn's Special Teams

The Tigers are great in baseline or sideline out of bounds. What makes them unique is how they use their big men. Most teams have a guard taking the ball out but Auburn mixes in Johni Broome and Chaney Johnson.

Post-Up Isolation BLOB

Cross Screen Post-Up BLOB

Flex Slip BLOB

Box Post-Up SLOB

Iverson Backdoor SLOB