Auburn Tigers guard Tahaad Pettiford has been named SEC Freshman of the Week for the first time this season.
Last week, he demonstrated his skills by averaging 18.0 points, 3.0 steals, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game during consecutive victories against ranked SEC teams. Auburn convincingly defeated No. 15 Mississippi State 88-66 and then triumphed over Georgia with a score of 70-23.
In the game against Georgia, Pettiford achieved a career-high of 24 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the field, 5-of-7 from three-point range, and 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. This marked his third 20-point game of the season, tying him for third among Auburn freshmen in the program’s history.
Against Mississippi State, he contributed 12 points and recorded a personal-best four steals. Pettiford’s performance was crucial for Auburn as they dealt with the absence of forward Johni Broome, who is sidelined with an ankle sprain sustained on January 11.
As a recruit, Pettiford was ranked as the No. 29 player nationally and the second-best point guard in the 2024 class, according to 247 Sports.
Currently, Auburn is ranked as the unanimous No. 1 team in the country in the AP Top 25 and almost unanimously in the Coaches Poll. Their overall record stands at 17-1, including an undefeated SEC record of 5-0, and they are riding a 10-game winning streak.
Despite being bumped from the top spot in KenPom ratings after a tight game against Georgia, media writers and coaches still recognize Auburn as the leading team.
The team’s ability to have players step up in the absence of key players illustrates their depth, positioning them as strong contenders for a deep run in March Madness, with hopes for a National Championship title. Historically, the Tigers have never reached the championship game, making it to the Final Four only once in 2019.
