The Auburn Tigers failed to make the NCAA Tournament this season under Bruce Pearl’s successor and son, Steven Pearl. Instead, they accepted the invitation to play in the NIT Tournament.
The Tigers breezed past the competition before facing Tulsa in the championship game on Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Former Auburn player Charles Barkley was present to cheer on his alma mater in this game.
A clip of Barkley from the NIT Tournament championship game made the rounds on the internet. In the video, point guard Tahaad Pettiford can be seen dapping up Barkley before scoring a dunk to seal the win.
Coming out of high school, Pettiford had offers from programs like Auburn, Ole Miss, Seton Hall, Kentucky, UCLA, UConn, and Kansas. In 2023, he committed to play for the Tigers. During his freshman campaign, he averaged 11.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game.
This season, the point guard averaged 15.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, and 3.7apg. In the NIT championship game against Tulsa, Pettiford scored 24 points with two rebounds, eight assists, and one block. Auburn also became the first SEC program to win the NIT championship since South Carolina in 2006.
Auburn coach Steven Pearl shares his thoughts after winning the NIT championship
After the game, Steven Pearl came forward to express his joy of winning the NIT championship with Auburn. He said that despite their failure to make it to March Madness, he was grateful for the victory and praised his players for their performance.
“I don’t think you guys have enough time to go through the number of lessons I’ve learned in my first year,” Pearl said, as per AL.com. “I think it’s something that I’ll probably look back and reflect on once the season is over.”
“I’m thankful for the players. You know, they were put in an incredibly difficult situation this year, coming in with only one returner, 10 new guys, nine underclassmen. … And then, obviously, to not be in the tournament and put in a position where we’ve got to play the NIT championship, and to their credit, these young men have taken full advantage of that opportunity. I am proud of them,” he added.
Bruce Pearl retired in September before naming his son as his successor. Last season, he helped the program compete in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to the Florida Gators in the Final Four.
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