Auburn’s Subtle Shift at Point Guard Could Spark a Bigger Turnaround
Tahaad Pettiford doesn’t just play a lot for Auburn - he’s practically a fixture on the floor. Through SEC play, the sophomore guard is logging over 82% of available minutes, second only to Keyshawn Hall on the team and 12th across the entire conference. That kind of usage isn’t just about trust - it’s about impact.
Despite some shooting struggles this season, Pettiford has been Auburn’s most effective player in terms of overall impact. He leads the team in plus/minus at +144 and boasts the best on/off net rating at +11.7.
When he’s out there, the Tigers are simply better - especially on the defensive end, where his presence helps lock things down. Offensively, Auburn is more secure with the ball when he’s running the show, posting the lowest turnover rate among all rotations when he’s on the court.
But even iron men need breathers, and that’s where things have gotten a little murky for Auburn.
When SEC play opened with back-to-back losses, freshman Kaden Magwood was pulled from the rotation. In his place, the Tigers turned to Blake Muschalek - a former walk-on who seized the opportunity in his first outing. Against Arkansas, Muschalek came in and made a quick impression: +12 in plus/minus before garbage time, five points on the board, and solid minutes in a blowout win.
Since then, though, the spark has dimmed. Muschalek’s plus/minus in SEC play has dropped to -13, and both Auburn’s offensive and defensive ratings have hit their lowest marks with him on the floor.
He hasn’t scored since the Arkansas game and has taken just five shots in 38 total minutes of SEC action. Simply put, the Tigers haven’t been getting much from the backup point guard spot - and it’s started to show.
That’s why Saturday’s loss to Alabama might have revealed something more important than the final score.
With Pettiford on the bench, Auburn shifted gears. Instead of going to Muschalek, the Tigers handed the reins to Kevin Overton - a veteran combo guard who’s already playing close to 80% of Auburn’s SEC minutes. It wasn’t a flashy change, but it was a meaningful one.
“I think it's just filling in the minutes that need to be filled,” Overton said on Monday. “I don't know what exactly the coaches talked about for that to happen, but I appreciate it.
I just think that lets me know that I'm somebody that's trusted on this team. I don't think it's necessarily hard or unnatural for me to play that position, just based on the way my whole life has went.”
Overton’s not a traditional point guard, but he’s experienced, calm under pressure, and clearly trusted by the coaching staff. And while Auburn didn’t come away with the win against Alabama, the minutes with Overton at the point didn’t hurt them - and that’s a big deal.
Because sometimes, all it takes is a small shift to unlock something bigger.
The Tigers are entering the final stretch of the regular season - four weeks to go, and every possession counts. Tuesday night brings a quick turnaround with a home matchup against a top-20 Vanderbilt team. And while the headlines might focus on star performances or team rankings, keep an eye on that point guard rotation.
If Overton can continue to give Auburn steady minutes at the one when Pettiford sits, it could solve a lingering issue that’s quietly held this team back. It’s not about reinventing the wheel - it’s about finding just enough balance to keep the engine running smoothly.
And right now, Auburn might have found that balance.