After transferring to Auburn from Division II Alabama-Huntsville for the 2023-24 season, Chaney Johnson’s playing time was limited because of the presence of Jaylin Williams.
Following the departure of Williams, Johnson was aware of his playing time and despite coming off the bench in each game, he is capitalizing on increased minutes and helping the No. 5 Tigers stay unbeaten through three games heading into Monday’s visit from North Alabama.
Johnson averaged 4.7 points last season when he came off the bench in 33 of 35 games while Williams averaged 12.4. This season, Johnson is Auburn’s second-leading scorer at 14 per game behind Johni Broome’s 16.7.
Johnson enjoyed the best game of his career in Wednesday’s 79-56 home win over Kent State, scoring a career-high 18 points. Johnson shot 8-of-11 from the floor and played 29 minutes after scoring 11 points in 31 minutes in Auburn’s 74-69 win at then-No. 4 Houston on Nov. 9.
“Last summer I came in with a bigger chip on my shoulder because I knew I was going to have to take the spot that J-Will filled so well,” Johnson said. “So just trusting in my work, making sure I’m working on the right shots, I’m going to get in the offense. And also just playing with more confidence.”
Johnson is forming an effective frontcourt tandem with Broome, who also scored 18 and made 8-of-12 shots from the floor against Kent State. Auburn is hoping to see another productive night from the tandem before facing Iowa State in the Maui Invitational later this month in a field that includes two-time reigning national champion UConn, North Carolina and Michigan State.
“I believe he could’ve played like this last year, and I always told him play your game, be confident,” Broome said of Johnson. “We played one on one every day in the summer, offseason, so I know how good he is. As you can see, when he plays with confidence, he’s unstoppable.”
Auburn also is hoping to avoid a letdown after sandwiching double-digit victories around its win at Houston. The Tigers are facing an opponent that moved up to Division I in 2018 and plays at a slower pace while shooting 47 percent from the floor and averaging 10.3 turnovers per game.
Despite its slower pace, North Alabama (3-1) is averaging 87.5 points through its first four games. The Lions won their first three games by double digits before a 98-97 overtime home loss to Samford on Friday
“We’ve just got to come out ready to play like we would come out any other game,” Auburn guard Denver Jones said. “We’ve got to be just as excited as we were to play Houston to play UNA Monday, and I feel like that’s going to be the biggest key as far as being the more excited team.”
In the loss to Samford, North Alabama trailed by 19 at halftime before making a big comeback thanks to Jacari Lane’s career-high 32 points. Lane, who is averaging 22.8 points, has surpassed 20 points in three of the Lions’ four games.
The schools are meeting for the second time. Auburn claimed a 70-44 home win on Dec. 14, 2021, when it shot 36.2 percent from the floor but held the Lions to 29.5 percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers.
