“Just staying prepared”: Auburn's Tahaad Pettiford shares team's mindset as Bruce Pearl's squad prepares for SEC competition

Freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford and the No. 2 ranked Auburn Tigers are set to open SEC play against the Missouri Tigers on Saturday at Neville Arena.

Pettiford has been a key contributor to Auburn’s early success and recognized the importance of preparation as the team enters the demanding SEC slate.

After completing a tough non-conference schedule with a 12-1 record, Auburn is bracing for the SEC play, where 10 teams are ranked or receiving votes in the latest AP Poll.

“Just staying prepared,” Pettiford said. “Going to every game with the mindset that we know we can beat them and just coming out ready. We know every week it’s going to be a tough game.”

The Tigers have already faced six Quad 1 opponents, including a narrow 84-78 loss at No. 4 ranked Duke on Dec. 5, one of college basketball’s most hostile environments.

These experiences have prepared Auburn for upcoming challenges, including road games at Alabama’s Coleman Coliseum and Kentucky’s Rupp Arena later in the season.

Coach Bruce Pearl, who is on the brink of tying Joel Eaves (213) for the most career wins in Auburn history, has led the Tigers to remarkable success.

Under Pearl’s guidance, Auburn has achieved six seasons with double-digit SEC wins in the past seven years and boasts an impressive 51-3 home record over the last four seasons at Neville Arena.

Auburn leads the all-time series 8-6 and has won the last four meetings with Missouri.

Auburn’s Dylan Cardwell and Johni Broome are players to watch. Cardwell recorded his first career double-double (12 pts, 11 reb) in the Tigers’ recent win over Monmouth on Dec. 30, and both he and Broome form one of the nation’s most dominant frontcourts.

Auburn's Tahaad Pettiford aims for defensive growth under Bruce Pearl's guidance

Auburn freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford continues to make a significant impact early in his college basketball career, demonstrating growth on both ends of the court.

Speaking about his recent performance, he acknowledged the improvements in his defensive game while recognizing areas where he can continue to develop.

"I feel like my defense definitely stepped up a little bit," Pettiford said. "Definitely gotta contain my fouls more, but I just feel like coach Bruce pushes me to become a better defender."

The freshman has averaged 11.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 45.2% for Auburn this season. He has a 100% conversion rate from the line with 22 rebounds, 40 assists and 13 steals.

For Pettiford, defense has been a focus as he adapts to the speed and physicality of SEC basketball in his freshman season. His quickness and instincts make him a disruptive presence, but as he noted, managing fouls remains an area of improvement.