Auburn Basketball

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl came to the defense of Chad Baker-Mazara after the junior guard was ejected from the Tigers' 78-76 loss to Yale in the first round of the 2024 NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Having already questioned the ruling in the immediate aftermath of the loss, Pearl turned his focus Thursday to Auburn fans who have been haranguing Baker-Mazara.

"I'm just going to tell the Auburn family, while I know you're disappointed, if somebody was messing with your son, you'd stand up for your son a little bit, wouldn't you?" he said, per the Associated Press' John Zenor. "Stop messing with my son. Stop it. He apologized. He made a mistake. And I'm calling you out. I'm not having it. For those on social media that want to continue, unfollow those people. Stop it."

Baker-Mazara was only on the floor for three minutes of Auburn's opening contest. At the 16:59 mark of the first half, the referees handed him a flagrant-2 foul for elbowing Yale guard August Mahoney.

It's not as though his ejection was the sole reason for the fourth-seeded Tigers going down. They turned the ball over 14 times and allowed the Bulldogs to get to the free-throw line 31 times.

Auburn led with a little over two minutes left before John Poulakidas' deep three-pointer put Yale on top.

Of course, fans were bound to wonder what might've been with Baker-Mazara on the court. He averaged 10.0 points and shot 41.8 percent from the floor this season, and he had combined for 24 points across Auburn's last two wins of the SEC tournament.

Associate head coach Steven Pearl thought Baker-Mazara's involvement would've reversed the outcome.

"We beat Yale by 20 points if Chad is in that game," Pearl said on The Next Round (via Ainslie Lee of AL.com). "I don't want to dance around that. I'm not trying to, obviously, disrespect Yale, but we're way better than they are and we should've beat them without him."

Perhaps such a disappointing finish will spur Baker-Mazara and the Tigers on to better things in 2024-25.

For the third time in its history, the Auburn men's basketball team is the SEC tournament champion.

The Tigers knocked off Florida on Sunday 86-67, led by Johni Broome (19 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks ) and Denver Jones (11 points). This was a balanced performance, as eight players had at least seven points.

Zyon Pullin's 15 points and seven rebounds paced the Gators.

Auburn's defense was excellent, forcing 11 turnovers and holding the Gators to just 1-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc (7.7 percent). The Tigers responded on the other end by playing solid team basketball (18 assists) while making just enough threes (6-of-19) to keep the Gators at bay.

And the performance had fans and pundits alike feeling bullish about their tournament chances—and Final Four hopes, at that—on social media after the contest:

It was a tough afternoon for Florida, however. Center Micah Handlogten had to leave the game with a lower leg injury in the first half, a situation that clearly shook up his teammates:

And the Bridgestone Arena crowd in Nashville also seemed to side with Auburn throughout the contest, creating a raucous environment in favor of the Tigers.

The Tigers used that energy to take an eight-point lead into the half and stymie an 11-2 run from the Gators early in the second half, responding with a 19-6 run of their own to take control of the contest.

Auburn shot lights out in the second half (64 percent), another huge factor in the win.

Both teams are now headed to the NCAA tournament, and both should be a tough out, with Auburn starting to look like a team poised for a deep run. The Tigers will ride a six-game winning streak into March Madness and have won 11 of their past 14 games.

This is not a team to be taken lightly. The Tigers have excellent depth, play stifling defense and are peaking at the right moment. March may be Auburn's month.

When Auburn senior Johni Broome felt a hand come from the sideline and grab his jersey during Saturday's win over Ole Miss, he thought it was any old Rebels fan trying to hold onto him.

He got the surprise of a lifetime when he realized it was legendary actor Morgan Freeman.

After saving the ball from going out of bounds, Freeman put his hands up just incase the 6'10" big man came tumbling down onto him. Broome thought he was trying to grab his jersey, so he smacked his hand away.

Once he realized it was Freeman, Broome turned around and apologized.

"I thought it was an Ole Miss fan just grabbing my jersey and holding onto me," Broome told reporters after the game. "Then I saw who it was and, you know, I'm a big movie guy. I probably watched some of his movies on the plane coming here. But I realized it was him and was like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm a big fan, I'm sorry.' And he just said to keep playing."

Technically Broome wasn't wrong as Freeman is an Ole Miss fan, he's just not your everyday fan.

Broome was impressive in the Tigers' 91-77 win over the Rebels, notching 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 25 minutes to help Auburn improve to 18-4 on the season.

Ole Miss, meanwhile, dropped to 18-4 with the loss.

One of the best point guards in the 2024 recruiting class is headed to Auburn.

Tahaad Pettiford told Joe Tipton of On3 Sports he chose the Tigers over the likes of Kentucky, UCLA, Kansas, UConn, Seton Hall and Ole Miss.

According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Pettiford is a 5-star prospect and the No. 22 overall player, No. 3 point guard and No. 2 player from the state of New Jersey in the 2024 class.

"I chose Auburn because I feel like Coach Bruce Pearl is going to prepare me for the next level," Pettiford told Tipton. "I loved the environment and the energy on campus from everyone. It made me feel like it was a second home."

Pearl is already building an impressive 2024 class that includes 4-star big man Peyton Marshall.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see Marshall and Pettiford running pick-and-rolls and operating a two-man game against SEC defenses once they are together with the Tigers.

Pettiford's explosiveness with the ball stands out, as he can beat defenders off the dribble in half-court sets or get out in transition. That type of speed and athleticism should help him stay in front of ball-handlers on the defensive side as well.

He told Tipton he sees himself as "a scoring point guard that can get my teammates involved and make a big play when needed."

That would certainly work in Pearl's system as the head coach attempts to build on the momentum he has established with Auburn. The program reached the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003 in his fourth season in 2017-18 and then advanced all the way to the Final Four in 2019.

The Big Dance is no longer the baseline expectation for the Tigers under Pearl, especially after they went 28-6 last season just to lose in the second round.

Auburn is 16-5 this season and has an even brighter future following the commitment of Pettiford.

Auburn Tigers star Jabari Smith Jr. is ready for the big stage, and the potential first overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft believes he can one day be one of the best players in league history.

"I feel like I can be one of the greatest ever," Smith told Stadium's Shams Charania (4:40 mark below). "Honestly, like, putting in my work and just how I carry myself and how I view the game and, like, I've been around basketball so long and got people around me that just know the game. It's like, the sky's the limit."

Smith had an incredible freshman season with the Tigers, averaging 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and 42.0 percent from deep in 34 games. 

The 6'10" sharpshooter was a consensus All-American, an All-SEC first-team selection and the SEC Rookie of the Year.

Smith is considered one of the more well-rounded players in this year's draft. He's one of the best three-point shooters, rebounders and disruptive defenders available. He has excellent speed and agility, and his ceiling as a two-way star is pretty high. 

That said, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Duke's Paolo Banchero also have the potential be the top pick in this year's draft after also having impressive freshman seasons at their respective schools.

Holmgren, a consensus All-American and WCC Newcomer of the Year, was once considered the best player available in this year's draft before Smith's emergence. He averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 60.7 percent from the floor and 39.0 percent from deep in 32 games. 

Banchero, who was also a consensus All-American and ACC Rookie of the Year, averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from deep in 39 games.

Smith has the best odds to be selected first overall at -125, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Holmgren has the next-best odds at +150, while Banchero has the third-best odds at +500.

Whoever is selected first overall will be headed to Orlando after the Magic won the 2022 NBA draft lottery on Tuesday. The Oklahoma City Thunder will pick second and the Houston Rockets will pick third. 

Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions. 

Auburn star Jabari Smith is moving on after declaring for the 2022 NBA draft.

The move was widely expected since the 6'10" forward emerged as a candidate to land No. 1 overall this summer. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected him to be the top pick to the Orlando Magic.

Smith was the seventh-best player in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2021 recruiting class, so he didn't climb up draft boards from obscurity. 

But Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Duke's Paolo Banchero frequently occupied the first two spots in mock drafts before the 2021-22 season tipped off. Last October, Wasserman had them at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, with Smith following closely at No. 4.

As the year went on, Smith began muscling in on Holmgren and Banchero to cement himself as potentially the top player available.

In 34 games, the 18-year-old averaged 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks. He also displayed impressive range, shooting 42.0 percent from beyond the arc and knocking down 2.3 three-pointers per game.

One of his standout performances came in a Jan. 11 win over Alabama. He finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, and he shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.

That month, Wasserman provided a stock report on Smith and noted he was challenging Holmgren for the No. 1 slot:

"What seemed like flashes of shooting and mid-range scoring early in the season have become regular occurrences for Jabari Smith. Scouts sound totally swayed by his consistent three-pointers and advanced rise-and-fire game inside the arc.

"The 6'10", 18-year-old is still at 42.3 percent on 5.1 attempts from behind the arc. They aren't all just simple catch-and-shoot shots. He's pulling up and using jab steps, getting himself enough space to elevate for jumpers that defenders can't effectively contest."

ESPN's Mike Schmitz also praised Smith and explained how he "has two foundational pillars that set him apart from the rest of the prospects in the top three: He's an elite shooter, and he has the footwork to be a multipositional one-on-one defender."

In terms of his draft stock, Smith stood to gain little by spending another year at Auburn. Head coach Bruce Pearl probably assumed he'd be a one-and-done when he recruited him to the Tigers.

The predraft process can be difficult to read in terms of how a player might rise or fall. Barring a significant setback, Smith seems unlikely to slip much further than No. 3 on draft night.

Auburn's Walker Kessler has declared for the 2022 NBA draft, he announced Sunday. 

Kessler also told ESPN's Jonathan Givony that he has hired an agent and is "fully committed to the NBA draft" and doesn't plan on returning to Auburn.

Kessler began his collegiate career at UNC during the 2020-21 season before transferring to Auburn last summer. During his freshman season with the Tar Heels, he played just 8.8 minutes per game and averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 29 contests. 

The 20-year-old took a big leap forward in his sophomore season for the Tigers as he averaged 25.6 minutes per game. He averaged 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting 60.8 percent from the floor in 34 games. 

Kessler also emerged as one of the best shot-blockers in college basketball this season, averaging 4.6 blocks per game, and led the SEC with 79 dunks. His performance earned him both the Naismith and NABC National Defensive Player of the Year awards. 

"This season was a blast for my teammates and I," Kessler said. "Winning the SEC regular season and being the No. 1 ranked team in the country for the first time in Auburn history was a dream. I really valued all the time I spent with the coaching staff and everyone around the program. It was so much fun."

While Kessler isn't expected to be one of the highest picks in the upcoming draft, he still figures to be a first-round selection. Many NBA teams will highly value his 7'1", 245-pound frame and his 7'5" wingspan. 

Kessler and the rest of the NBA's top prospects will have the opportunity to improve their draft stock at next month's NBA combine. 

Walker Kessler's defense was a major reason the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team won the SEC regular-season title during the 2021-22 campaign, and he was officially rewarded for it Sunday.

The Auburn big man was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year:

Kessler was already recognized as a member of the All-SEC First Team, All-SEC Defensive Team and the conference's Defensive Player of the Year.

The forward, who started his collegiate career at North Carolina before transferring to the Tigers, averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and a head-turning 4.6 blocks per game this past season. He also shot 60.8 percent from the field as a double-double threat every time he stepped on the floor.

It's not often a player gets a triple-double in college basketball and even rarer that it happens with blocks instead of assists, but Kessler did so twice this season. 

He notched 16 points, 11 blocks and 10 rebounds in a December victory over a ranked LSU team and then posted 12 points, 12 blocks and 11 rebounds in a February win over Texas A&M. He also just missed a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocks in an NCAA tournament win over Jacksonville State.

Despite the impressive campaign that ended in being recognized as the nation's best defender, Kessler's season ended in disappointment.

He finished with just two points, two rebounds and two blocks in 13 minutes during Auburn's 79-61 loss to Miami in the second round of the Big Dance. Kessler spent much of the first half on the bench because of foul trouble and was unable to establish his typical rhythm when he was on the floor.

Yet Kessler did enough throughout the season, especially on the defensive side, to catch the attention of NBA scouts.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected the Auburn star as a first-round pick to the Milwaukee Bucks in his most recent mock draft.         

One of the biggest remaining pieces in the 2022 recruiting class came off the board Thursday after Yohan Traore committed to Auburn, per Joe Tipton of On3.com.

"I like Bruce Pearl," Traore said. "I think he's a great coach with experience with players at the 4 position, like Chuma Okeke, Isaac Okoro, JT Thor, and this year, Jabari [Smith] so I think they will be able to develop my game.

"There was a family atmosphere [at Auburn]. The players were cool too. Every day they're going to push me to be the best. I think it's going to be a great place and I trust the coaches."

The 6'10" big man is the No. 15 overall player and No. 4 center in the country, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

In March, LSU fired head coach Will Wade after the NCAA issued the school a notice of allegations. A few weeks later, the Tigers began witnessing the fallout when Traore told On3's Joe Tipton he was decommitting from the school.

"Due to the recent changes within the basketball program, my family and I have decided to reopen my recruitment," he said. "Looking forward to finding a new place I can call home."

That set off a late frenzy to secure his commitment.

After having evaluated Traore, 247Sports' Brandon Jenkins called him a "skilled, efficient, and productive big man with a good natural frame":

His efficiency comes in how he generally plays within himself offensively and does what is asked of him on the floor. Traore displays a natural shooting touch not only inside but out to 15 feet, and he always looks [to] dunk everything he possibly can while operating inside or in the dunker spot. He also has great hands, is a solid rebounder, and runs the floor with purpose. Traore has the size, mobility, and skill as a big man that high major guards would love to play with.

Traore fits the profile of a modern-day center. Not only does he have the size to bang inside, but he also possesses the athleticism you'd associate with a smaller forward. Somebody who's nearly 7'0" tall shouldn't really be able to do this:

While not a complete unknown on the recruiting circuit, Traore's true talent level was somewhat muddled because he had been balling out in France. Upon arriving in the United States, he didn't wait long to make an impression.

Traore turned heads in July with Dream Vision at the Adidas 3SSB in Birmingham, Alabama, after averaging 19.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. 

Eric Bossi of 247Sports wrote he was "likely the most consistently dominant performer of the entire four days in Alabama." The Athletic's CJ Moore also named him as his player of the tournament, adding that "not many people even knew who this dude was a few months ago."

As a result of his performance, Traore climbed from 67th to ninth in 247Sports' composite rankings. His stock was seemingly only going to go up as he showcased his talent at Dream City Christian.

Traore should immediately become a key player for the Tigers upon joining the squad for the 2022-23 season and should provide plenty of highlights before he inevitably makes the jump to the next level.

And Auburn should be one of the top teams in college basketball, with 4-star small forward Chance Westry joining Traore in a very solid incoming recruiting class.