Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford has landed on the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List, with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame recognizing the junior as one of the nation’s top returning floor generals.
Pettiford is one of 20 players named to the list and one of eight from the SEC. The nod comes after a sophomore season in which he averaged 15.4 points and 3.8 assists per game, and he enters his third year on the Plains with Auburn looking to build on last season’s NIT Championship and get back to the NCAA Tournament.
The Jersey City, N.J. native was a steady production point all year long. He scored 20 or more points 13 times and handed out five or more assists in 14 games. In only two seasons, Pettiford has already piled up 1,025 career points and 258 career assists.
His sophomore campaign also brought a string of new personal bests. Pettiford set career highs in points with 30 against Arizona, rebounds with six against Mississippi State, assists with nine against Queens, steals with four against Alabama and blocks with four against NC State.
He joins a preseason watch list that includes Markus Burton (Indiana), Elliot Cadeau (Michigan), Jason Crowe Jr. (Missouri), Silas DeMary Jr.
(UConn), Donovan Dent (LSU), Quinn Ellis (St. John’s), Jeremy Fears Jr.
(Michigan State), Boogie Fland (Florida), Aden Holloway (Alabama), Josh Hubbard (Mississippi State), Nigel James Jr. (Marquette), Acaden Lewis (Miami), Chance Mallory (Virginia), Miles Sadler (West Virginia), Jackson Shelstad (Louisville), Jordan Smith Jr.
(Arkansas), Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt), Dedan Thomas Jr. (Houston) and Tobert Wright III (BYU).
Auburn wraps up its preseason Thursday with a final exhibition against Samford at 7 p.m. The Tigers then open the regular season at home against Southeastern Louisiana on Monday, Nov. 4.
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 🡒]