BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The preseason No. 11-ranked Auburn men’s basketball team was picked to finish second in a vote by SEC and national media members released on Monday.
The Tigers were one of a nation-leading nine SEC teams ranked in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 Poll. They look to defend their SEC Tournament title from a year ago playing arguably the nation’s toughest schedule (20 of its possible non-conference and conference opponents ranked inside the Top 50 in the preseason KenPom Rankings).
Senior All-American forward/center Johni Broome, who received votes in SEC Player of the Year voting, was one of two Tigers who earned a nod on the preseason all-conference teams. The No. 1-ranked player by Evan Miya heading into the 2024-25 campaign, he is coming off a dominant season where he was a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award and was the Tigers’ top scorer (16.5 ppg), rebounder (8.5 rpg) and shot blocker (78).
Broome was joined on the All-SEC First Team by Mark Sears of Alabama, Walter Clayton Jr. of Florida, Zakai Zeigler of Tennessee and Wade Taylor IV of Texas A&M.
For the first time of his career, senior combo guard/forward Chad Baker-Mazara (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) was honored on the All-SEC Third Team along with Alex Condon of Florida, Jaxson Robinson of Kentucky, Collin Murray-Boyles of South Carolina and Tramon Mark of Texas.
Last season, Baker-Mazara was third on the team in scoring (10.0 ppg), rebounding (3.7 rpg) and second in steals (36). He and Broome (MVP) were members of the 2024 SEC All-Tournament Team leading the Tigers to wins over South Carolina, Mississippi State and Florida to claim the program’s fourth conference title over the last seven years under head coach Bruce Pearl.
ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM
Mark Sears (Alabama)
Johni Broome (Auburn)
Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida)
Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee)
Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M)
ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM
Grant Nelson (Alabama)
Jonas Aidoo (Arkansas)
Johnell Davis (Arkansas)
Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss)
Josh Hubbard (Mississippi State)
ALL-SEC THIRD TEAM
Chad Baker-Mazara (Auburn)
Alex Condon (Florida)
Jaxson Robinson (Kentucky)
Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
Tramon Mark (Texas)
SEC MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. Tennessee
4. Arkansas
5. Texas A&M
6. Florida
7. Texas
8. Kentucky
9. Ole Miss
10. Mississippi State
11. South Carolina
12. Georgia
13. Missouri
14. LSU
15. Oklahoma
16. Vanderbilt