Following Auburn’s 79-73 loss to Florida in the Final Four, head coach Bruce Pearl detailed the key reasons behind the Tigers’ second-half collapse against Todd Golden’s Gators.
Auburn led 46-38 at halftime but was outscored 41-27 in the second half—thanks in large part to a vintage performance from Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., who finished with 34 points.
Bruce Pearl Discusses What Went Wrong
With his team looking sharp early, fueled by 12 first-half points from star forward Johni Broome, Pearl said turnovers were a major turning point in the game.
Bruce Pearl said fatigue and a lack of depth were factors in the Tigers’ loss to Florida:
“If we had taken care of the basketball a little bit, not turned it over and given them so many easy ones, we could’ve been in position to win the basketball game.” pic.twitter.com/6HYGqcdhXO
— Auburn Tigers | AL.com (@aldotcomTigers) April 6, 2025
“We played beautiful basketball in the first half,” Pearl said. “We were prepared and had an excellent game plan. Only turned the ball over twice.”
The second half was a different story.
“If we had taken care of the basketball a little bit—not turned it over and given them so many easy ones—we could’ve been in the position to win the game,” Pearl added.
Fatigue Was a Factor
Pearl also cited fatigue and a lack of depth as contributing issues. Forward Chris Moore played just three minutes, and the rotation tightened as the game wore on.
“The fact that we’re not as deep as we normally are is a factor,” Pearl said. “I thought fatigue was a factor.”
Broome, who played more minutes than any other Auburn player, later revealed he was managing an elbow injury throughout the game.
“Here and there, it bothered me a little bit, but nothing that I couldn’t play with,” Broome said after the loss.
Pearl Credits Florida’s Star
While Pearl didn’t shy away from pointing out what went wrong, he also gave credit where it was due—specifically to Clayton Jr., who torched Auburn’s defense with an array of tough shots.
“Well, he’s a great player,” Pearl said. “He can go both ways and make tough shots. He was flat-out the difference. We couldn’t contain him.”
Pearl also praised freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford, calling him “easily one of the top five freshmen in the country” following a breakout NCAA Tournament run.
MORE: Walter Clayton Jr.’s Historic Night Propels Florida Into National Championship
With Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell both playing their final game in an Auburn uniform, Pearl will turn to Pettiford and the rest of the Tigers’ young core as he begins building for another deep run next season.
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