With SEC play just around the corner, Auburn fans can breathe a little easier-Tahaad Pettiford is good to go.
The sophomore point guard gave Tiger Nation a brief scare when he exited the second half of Auburn’s 88-60 loss to Purdue after rolling his ankle on teammate Flip Jovic’s foot. He limped off and didn’t return, raising questions about his availability heading into the heart of the season. But according to head coach Steven Pearl, there’s no cause for concern.
“Ankle is fine,” Pearl said Saturday. “He’s tweaked his ankle multiple times in his career, even in high school.
It’s just something he has to continue to monitor and continue to get treatment on. But right now he’s good.”
That’s welcome news for Auburn, especially with Pettiford hitting his stride. After a sluggish start to the season, the guard has found his rhythm, averaging 17.3 points per game over the last six contests while knocking down 45 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. On the season, he’s putting up 15.2 points per game and showing the kind of offensive leadership the Tigers will need as they dive into conference play.
The team returned to practice Friday following the holiday break, and Pettiford was a full participant. Pearl noted that the young guard didn’t just show up-he stood out.
“He responded to some tough coaching and had one of his better practices of the year yesterday,” Pearl said.
It’s the kind of response you want to see from a player expected to shoulder a significant load in SEC play. Pettiford’s ability to bounce back from minor injuries and stay locked in mentally is a good sign for Auburn’s backcourt depth and overall offensive flow.
Meanwhile, there’s more positive news on the injury front. Forward KeShawn Murphy used the holiday downtime to make progress with a nagging knee issue. Pearl said Murphy has looked healthier, which could give Auburn a boost in the frontcourt as they gear up for a critical stretch of games.
Auburn (8-4) wraps up its nonconference slate Monday night against Queens at Neville Arena (9 p.m. CST, SEC Network). Then it’s go time-SEC play begins next Saturday on the road against Georgia.
With Pettiford trending up and the roster getting healthier, Auburn looks poised to turn the page and make some noise in the conference.