Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers entered March Madness as the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and are now just two wins away from college basketball’s ultimate prize.
Auburn’s roster is largely built through the transfer portal, a common trend in the NIL era, with many of its key players being upperclassmen. The Tigers’ starting lineup has an average age of 23.2 years, and while the veteran presence dominates the spotlight, it’s freshman Tahaad Pettiford who has stepped up in the NCAA tournament.
During the regular season, Pettiford averaged 22.1 minutes and 11 points per game off the bench. However, in Auburn’s four tournament games, his production has surged to 29 minutes and 17.2 points per game. He played a pivotal role in the Tigers’ Sweet 16 comeback against Michigan, scoring 20 points, including 15 in the second half.
Michael DeCourcy, a college basketball insider for The Sporting News, spoke with Sportsnaut’s Evan Groat and emphasized Pettiford’s importance to Auburn’s Final Four chances.
“Johni Broome is the leader of this team—he drives the bus,” DeCourcy said of the SEC Player of the Year. “But the one steering the sports car that ultimately wins the race is Tahaad Pettiford. Without him, Auburn is a great team with an elite player, but Pettiford elevates them.”
Pearl’s confidence in Pettiford has clearly grown, as reflected in his increased minutes.
“Bruce understands that Pettiford’s impact is crucial for Auburn to reach its full potential,” DeCourcy added.
For Auburn to reach Monday’s national championship, Pettiford will need to maintain his strong play. But first, the Tigers must get past SEC rival Florida, who handed them a 90-81 loss on Feb. 8.
One thing is clear: Pettiford won’t shy away from the big stage in San Antonio. If the past four games have shown anything, it’s that the higher the stakes, the better he performs—and there’s no bigger stage than the Final Four.
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