The No. 1-seed Auburn Tigers advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2025 NCAA Tournament with a 78-65 victory over Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen. A significant factor in this success has been the dynamic duo of senior big man Johni Broome and freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford. In their latest win, Broome contributed 22 points and 16 rebounds, while Pettiford also impressively scored 20 points.
Head coach Bruce Pearl, along with Broome, Pettiford, and guard Denver Jones (who also scored 20 points), met with the media on Saturday. Pearl, known for his media presence during the 2025 tournament, was particularly asked about Pettiford and his significance to the team. In typical Bruce Pearl fashion, he provided insights into the bond between the freshman and Broome.
Pearl is hilarious😭😭 pic.twitter.com/eI3zxaSzB2
— Hoops HQ (@hhqsports) March 29, 2025
“I think the biggest thing with Tahaad was, we loved him when he was young,” Pearl stated. “People were interested. They wondered, and I was like, ‘No, I want you to run my team or be our scorer, whatever.’ I think Tahaad remembered that when he was younger, and we didn’t waver from it. He trusted assistant coach Ira [Bowman] and has learned to trust me even though he didn’t know me well.” He added, “I want to give Johni credit in this regard. These guys are best friends. This is a senior in his fifth year with a lot going on, but when it’s about having fun, he genuinely supports Tahaad. He truly cares about Dylan [Cardwell] and the seniors on this team, and he wants to deliver for them.”
It’s rare for being called “a little sh*t” to be interpreted as a badge of honor, but the strong camaraderie among the Auburn players and coaching staff certainly suggests that it is indeed the case.
