Auburns SEC Media Days Choice Says Plenty About This Teams Tone

As anticipation builds for the SEC Media Days, Auburn's returners are set to showcase their strategies for an ambitious basketball season ahead.

Auburn will be represented by a pair of familiar faces when the SEC’s 2026 Basketball Media Days come to Birmingham, Alabama, next month.

The conference released the two-day schedule, with men’s and women’s basketball representatives set to meet the media on Oct. 13 and Oct. 14.

Auburn will be among the teams on Day 1, along with Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Day 2 will feature Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Texas and Texas A&M.

For the Tigers, head coach Steven Pearl will be joined by returners Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton. Both players are veterans on the Auburn roster heading into the 2026 season, and they’ll get the chance to help set the tone before the new year gets rolling.

Pearl is heading into his second season leading the program, and Auburn is trying to take a step forward in 2026-27. The road won’t be simple, either. The Tigers have scheduled matchups coming against Arizona, West Virginia, Clemson, Wisconsin and others.

Auburn’s staff also worked aggressively in the transfer portal during the offseason, adding a trio of big men along with several other pieces at important spots. Pettiford, now entering his third year as an Auburn Tiger, is expected to carry a heavy load.

The Tigers open the regular season on Nov. 4 at Auburn Arena against Southeastern Louisiana. Conference play begins on Jan. 2 with a road game at Texas A&M.

Here is the full list of player representatives for the SEC men’s basketball teams:

Day 1

Alabama: Amari Allen, Drew Fielder, Brandon Garrison

Auburn: Tahaad Pettiford, Kevin Overton

LSU: Abdi Bashir Jr., Mo Dioubate

Oklahoma: Xzayvier Brown, Pop Isaacs, Derrion Reid

Ole Miss: Adam "Budo" Clark, Patton Pinkins, Roman Siulepa

South Carolina: Camden Heide, Kory Mincy, Jakub Nečas

Vanderbilt: Chandler Bing, Tyler Tanner

Day 2

Georgia: Blue Cain, Marcus "Smurf" Millender

Missouri: Tony Bryant, Jason Crowe Jr., Bryson Tiller

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