SEC Tipoff '26: Auburn 'still a team to be reckoned with'

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – When introducing Auburn basketball Steven Pearl Wednesday at SEC Tipoff, commissioner Greg Sankey quoted Ferris Bueller.

“Life moves pretty fast.”

While new to the bright lights of the head coaching position, Steven Pearl is no stranger to Auburn or the SEC. The 2025-26 season mark his 12th year on the Plains and his 17th in the Southeastern Conference, including five seasons playing for Bruce Pearl at Tennessee.

“It all happened really fast,” Steven Pearl said, concurring with the commissioner’s assessment. “But I'm ready because I've spent 38 years watching him do this at a very, very high level.”

A trio of Tigers – Tahaad Pettiford, Keyshawn Hall and KeShawn Murphy – accompanied their coach to media day, 10 hours before tipping off their exhibition opener against Oklahoma State in Birmingham.

“Our guys came to Auburn knowing that this was what they were stepping into,” Pearl said. “They're incredibly excited about the opportunity. They're looking forward to the opportunity to show that Auburn is still a team to be reckoned with.

“It's a group that has continuously gotten better every single week. The energy in practice has been phenomenal. They're really tired of beating up on each other. They're really looking forward tonight to playing another high major opponent in Oklahoma State.”

Auburn’s first player off the bench as a freshman last season, Tahaad Pettiford received votes for preseason SEC Player of the Year and was voted First Team All-SEC.

“All kids dream of being the main player,” Pettiford said of his ascension from sixth man to The Man. “Another year of college basketball. I want to give it all I’ve got. I’ve got 12 guys behind me who are ready to go so I just can’t wait.”

“Tahaad Pettiford had a breakout season last year on one of the best teams in college basketball for most of the year,” Pearl said. “He's going to have a different role this year, a target on his back every single night, people gunning for him. To lead a team of 10 new players, he has an unbelievable opportunity in front of him to show how much he's grown as a leader and player.

“Keyshawn Hall, the Big 12 leading scorer last year. He's hungry, ready to go. I'm proud of Keyshawn Hall. He came here wanting to grow as a defender, as a leader, and as a winner.

“Really excited for what this group has to offer. I'm proud those guys are standing next to me today.”

SEC Tipoff marked a homecoming for Murphy, who played high school basketball at Ramsay, two and a half miles away from the Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook, the SEC Tipoff venue.

“I'm proud of him and the growth that he's shown,” said Pearl, noting Murphy’s outside shooting in recent scrimmages. “He decided to come to Auburn because of what we let our fours and fives do from an offensive standpoint. He always had the skill set, and he's really excited to show moving forward.

“My role is defensive intensity, rebounding, making the right plays, the right reads, get guys open,” Murphy said. “When we need a bucket, maybe get a bucket. Whatever the guys need, I’m wherever I need to be.”

After apprenticing under his hall of fame father for 11 seasons on the Plains, Steven Pearl steps into the spotlight at Neville Arena.

“One of the reasons why I believe I'm ready for this opportunity is because I've watched him,” Steven Pearl said. “I don't think there's anyone better in the history of the game as far as rebuilding programs. You've seen the things that he does in Auburn. It's everything outside of basketball that he's elite at, in addition to being a great coach.

“I think all those things are really important when it comes especially to a place at Auburn who really loves people that do that.

“I think that's been a huge advantage to have a front-row seat to a master class in rebuilding a program. With 10 new guys, it's not a rebuild, but we have our work cut out for us. We have to do a lot of the same things that BP did to get Auburn to where it is today and to continue that success.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer