Auburn got a strong look at its backcourt Thursday, and Tahaad Pettiford made sure the first impression was loud. The guard poured in 22 points in the Tigers’ Pro Day scrimmage, powering the blue team to a 49-44 win over the grey team.
Afterward, Pettiford sounded pleased with both the result and the rhythm Auburn showed.
“I think I played well. Helped my team come out with the win.
Made a couple shots. I’m happy,” Pettiford said.
“The guys came out here ready to go. Just got to show everybody what we can do and just ready to go next Wednesday.”
That next Wednesday is Auburn’s trip to Birmingham for Ballin’ in Boutwell, where the Tigers will face Florida State on Oct. 13. It’s the second straight year Auburn has taken part in the event, and it will also serve as the team’s first preseason exhibition of the season.
Pettiford is back for his third season on the Plains after averaging 13.5 points and 3.4 assists per game last season while shooting 40 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3-point range. He said the offseason was built around tightening up his jumper and expanding his game.
“Worked on my shot a lot. Just got bigger, stayed in the weight room a lot, passing and just try to be a more all-around player for the team,” Pettiford said.
He also talked about what this season means to him personally.
“I’m happy. It’s kind of something that I always wanted to be a leader on a Division I basketball team.
So, it’s kind of like surreal to me this year. Last year wasn’t the year that we wanted to have.
So being able to come back and do it again to hopefully have a better outcome.”
Auburn’s backcourt remains intact from the 2025 season, with Kevin Overton, Simon Walker and Blake Muschalek all back alongside Pettiford.
The Tigers also added a long list of newcomers in the offseason: forward Thomas Dowd (Troy), center Bukky Oboye (Santa Clara), forward/center Owen Freeman (Creighton), Adam Olsen (South Alabama), combo guard George Kimble III (Vanderbilt), 7-foot center Narcisse Ngoy from France, Lithuanian guard Mantas Rubštavičius, Kolby King (Utah State) and 3-star wing Caleb Williams from the high school ranks.
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