Auburn has spent the past couple of weeks taking its share of hits, from two preseason losses to the loss of a major overseas recruit and the firing of its men’s basketball general manager. But the Tigers did get one bit of good news: Tahaad Pettiford has landed on the Bob Cousy Award watchlist.
The annual list, unveiled just before the regular season, includes 20 of the nation’s top point guards. Eight SEC guards made the cut this year, and Pettiford was among them.
That recognition fits the trajectory Pettiford has built since arriving at Auburn in 2024. A five-star composite recruit from Hudson Catholic in New Jersey, he was rated the No. 2 point guard in the country, trailing only Rob Wright III, who committed to Baylor and now plays for BYU.
Pettiford’s first year in Auburn was a major one. He came off the bench for a Tigers team loaded with high-end talent, including NBA-caliber players like Johni Broome, Miles Kelly, Denver Johnson, Dylan Cardwell and Chaney Johnson, who has been seeing increased NBA production over the past few months. That group pushed all the way to the Final Four, with Broome finishing second in Player of the Year voting, while Pettiford posted 11.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 22.9 minutes per game.
Then came a sweeping reset on the Plains. Much of the 2024 roster moved on through graduation or the NBA Draft, and Bruce Pearl retired just before the 2025 season, handing the program - and Pettiford’s future - to his son, Steven.
Pettiford’s role grew fast. He jumped to 32.3 minutes per game in 2025 and responded with 15.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and a team-best 3.8 assists per game, becoming the kind of facilitator Auburn needed to keep the offense moving.
The season itself didn’t go the way Auburn wanted. Depth issues dragged the Tigers through a rough year, leaving them out of the NCAA Tournament and instead in the NIT. Auburn won that event behind Pettiford and transfer guard Kevin Overton.
Now a junior, Pettiford is again operating in a largely rebuilt lineup, but the expectation is that his production will hold. Through two preseason games, he has averaged 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists, numbers that could rise as he settles deeper into the season.
For Auburn, Pettiford gives them a top-tier point guard with a chance to shape both the team’s postseason outlook and his own future. A big season could bring the Cousy Award home to the Tigers and give his NBA stock a serious lift.
In Other News...
Auburn Walks Into A Huge SEC Test With Ole Miss Suddenly Shorthanded
Auburns trip to Oxford brings a notable SEC matchup back into view, with the Tigers and Ole Miss meeting for the first time in three years. The timing matters for both sides, too, because Auburn is trying to build on a win over Georgia after a loss to LSU, while Ole Miss is navigating a change in its backfield heading into a game that already carries plenty of weight.
Kewan Lacy will be unavailable for the Rebels after suffering a dislocated shoulder against Texas, leaving Ole Miss with a hole it has to fill against an Auburn defense that will be keyed on Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels quarterback has piled up 1,926 passing yards this season, so even with the backfield shorthanded, Auburn still has to deal with the part of the Ole Miss offense that can tilt the game fastest. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Could Be Getting A Needed O-Line Boost At The Right Time
Auburns offensive line might be getting some timely help as the season wears on, with head coach Alex Golesh saying sophomore Tai Buster could return to practice and play within a few weeks. Buster has been sidelined by a preseason injury, but he has stayed involved with the team during his recovery, keeping himself in the mix even while hes been unable to get back on the field.
For a line that always benefits from added depth, especially as the schedule tightens, Busters eventual return would give Auburn another option at a spot where bodies matter. He will miss the upcoming game against Ole Miss, but the possibility of getting him back later in the season gives the Tigers something worth watching beyond just the next matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns International Signee Saga Ends With Bigger Questions For The Program
Mantas Rubstavicius will not suit up for Auburn basketball this season after voluntarily dismissing his eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA, ending one of the more unusual roster stories the program has dealt with in recent months. The international signee is now expected to pursue a basketball opportunity in Europe, and he thanked Auburns administration, coach and teammates as the path with the Tigers came to a close.
The bigger issue for Auburn, though, may be what happens around the decision rather than the decision itself. The school also confirmed that general manager Brian Kloman was fired, with reports indicating the move stemmed from a failure to disclose Rubstavicius prior college enrollment overseas, leaving the program to sort through how such a significant oversight occurred in the first place. [Read more 🡒]