Basketball News: 2-10-2026
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Dudley Dent
Feb 10, 2026, 8:17:20 AM (4 days ago) Feb 10
to Tiger Tracks
Auburn Basketball News: 2-10-2026
Where Auburn basketball ranks in KenPom after loss to Alabama:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/mens-basketball/2026/02/08/auburn-basketball-kenpom-ranking-alabama-sec/88579950007/
Steven Pearl reacts to lack of foul calls on drives vs. Alabama:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/steven-pearl-reacts-to-lack-of-foul-calls-on-drives-vs-alabama/ar-AA1VW94i?ocid=winp2fptaskbarent&cvid=5f4132053b6a438af8c8e447cd51957d&ei=19
Auburn to host No. 19 Vanderbilt on Tuesday:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2026/02/9/auburn-to-host-no-19-vanderbilt-on-tuesday
Could Auburn expand its rotation? What Steven Pearl said:
https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/2026/02/could-auburn-expand-its-rotation-what-steven-pearl-said.html
Steven Pearl praises Kevin Overton’s move to point guard: ‘He’s confident at that spot’:
https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/2026/02/steven-pearl-praises-kevin-overtons-move-to-point-guard-hes-confident-at-that-spot.html
Overton takes on backup point-guard duties as Auburn assesses backcourt:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-basketball-tahaad-pettiford-blake-muschalek-kevin-overton-273753525/
Steven Pearl is trying to figure out why teams keep lighting up Auburn from 3-point range:
https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/2026/02/steven-pearl-is-trying-to-figure-out-why-teams-keep-lighting-up-auburn-from-3-point-range.html
'Tough shots' aside, Auburn's 3-point defense is reaching new lows:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-basketball-defense-3-point-alabama-tigers-2026-273757433/
VIDEO: Pearl Previews Vanderbilt:
https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/news/video-pearl-previews-vanderbilt/
Top-25 overall recruit Anderson Diaz visited Auburn for Tigers' game against Alabama:
https://www.on3.com/rivals/news/top-25-overall-recruit-anderson-diaz-visited-auburn-for-tigers-game-against-alabama/
Alabama finally learns it can't do everything it wants when it comes to NCAA rules:
https://flywareagle.com/alabama-finally-learns-it-can-t-do-everything-it-wants-when-it-comes-to-ncaa-rules-01kh2gntn2pv
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Where Auburn basketball ranks in KenPom after loss to Alabama
By Jac Myrick
Auburn Wire
The Auburn Tigers basketball fell to Alabama at home Saturday, Feb. 7, 96-92. This marks the Tigers' fifth loss in conference play; they now sit at 5-5 in the SEC and overall 14-9.
Auburn let one slip away late in the game to the Tide. The Tigers held the lead for 60% of the game and led by as much as 10. Sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford led the team with 25 points, shooting 3-of-8 from the three-point line.
Late in the contest, fouls became a factor. The Tigers allowed the Tide to get to the free-throw line, and they shot an efficient 87%. Auburn just couldn't get back in the last two minutes.
The Tigers are set to host another home game this upcoming Wednesday, Feb. 10. So, where does the Tigers rank in the latest KenPom rankings? Here is a look at Auburn according to every major statistical in KenPom.
Overall No. 30
Auburn fell three spots from its previous rank of No. 27 to No. 30. The Tigers have an overall efficiency score of +21.97.
Offensive efficiency: No. 12
KenPom rated the Tigers' offensive efficiency score a 125.4, ranking Auburn No. 12 in their offensive efficiency rankings.
Defensive efficiency: No. 70
The Tigers have sat around the top-70 in the KenPom defensive efficiency ranking all season long. Auburn comes in at No. 70 with a score of 103.4.
Adjusted tempo: No. 172
The Tigers rank No. 172 in KenPom's adjusted tempo with an average of 67.4 possessions per game.
Strength of schedule: No. 2
Auburn shown to have one of the toughest schedules in college basketball, again in the top-5 of KenPom strength of schedule.
Vanderbilt overview
Wednesday, Feb. 10, the No. 15 Vanderbilt Commodores are coming to take on the Auburn Tigers in Neville Arena. Where does the Commodores rank in KenPom statistics? Here is a look at Vanderbilt in KenPom's statistical rankings.
Overall: No. 14
Adjusted offensive efficiency: No. 14 (124.2)
Adjusted defensive efficiency: No. 18 (97.3)
Adjusted tempo: No. 38 (70.2)
Strength of schedule: No. 33 (+9.55)
Projected winner of the game: Auburn (51%)
Implied score: Auburn 82, Vanderbilt 81
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Steven Pearl reacts to lack of foul calls on drives vs. Alabama
By Grant Grubbs
On Saturday, Auburn fell 96-92 to Alabama. After the game, Auburn head coach Steven Pearl remained neutral when asked if he felt like the officials missed calls on the Tigers’ drives to the basket.
“We took 43 2-point attempts. I thought we attacked the paint pretty hard,” Pearl said. “I’ve got to watch the film and see if there were some possessions where we didn’t get fouls. I thought we did a pretty good job attacking the rim, playing off two (feet) and trying to finish through contact. I’ll have to watch the film and see if it should have been more. Not really sure.”
As Pearl mentioned, Auburn got plenty of shots up inside the paint. In turn, the team shot 22 free throws in the loss, making 17. In comparison, Alabama shot 23 despite shooting seven fewer 2-pointers in the contest.
For reference, Auburn averages 28.4 free-throw attempts per game, the second-most in college basketball. Auburn was called for one more foul than Alabama in the in-state showdown.
Any potential missed calls were far from the only reason for Auburn’s loss. The Tigers shot just 9-28 (32%) from 3-point range in the loss.
Additionally, Auburn’s bench was lackluster, only contributing seven points in the game. Meanwhile, Alabama’s bench combined for four times as many points. Nonetheless, Steven Pearl isn’t concerned about the team’s offense.
“Our bench production has been better,” Pearl said. “Elyjah [Freeman] has been a spark, but him being in foul trouble, that’s where a lot of the production comes from. But the offense has nothing to do with it.
“Like, we scored 92 points. That should be enough to win any game in our league. Tahaad [Pettiford] had a better offensive performance. KO was making some shots. Four of our best offensive players had pretty good nights. Had nothing to do with our offense, has everything to do with our defense. If we want to win games, we’ll sit down and guard like we did when he had that four-game stretch a couple weeks ago.”
With the loss, Auburn fell to 14-9 overall and 5-5 in conference play this season. The loss was Auburn’s second in a row. The team fell 77-69 to Tennessee in their previous outing.
Life isn’t about to get any easier for the Tigers. On Tuesday, Auburn will square off against No. 15 Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. ET. The game will air live on the SEC Network.
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Auburn to host No. 19 Vanderbilt on Tuesday
By Jeff Shearer
Noting No. 19 Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner’s 37-point explosion Saturday against Oklahoma, Auburn’s Kevin Overton flips into Michael Jordan “The Last Dance” mode.
“I take every matchup personally,” said the junior guard, who leads Auburn with 33 steals, “in terms of what I need to do to guard the ball. That’s going to be a collective effort, especially the way he’s playing right now.”
Vanderbilt’s leading scorer, Tanner averages 18.6 points and 5.3 assists per game, helping the Commodores produce the nation’s No. 12 offense at 88.9 points per game.
“I definitely will be the first line of defense but with our switching and the things we do, I know I won’t be able to guard him the whole game,” said Overton, who also logged minutes at point guard Saturday against Alabama. “So, it’s really a collective effort.”
“Tyler Tanner is one of the best point guards in all of college basketball,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said. “He does a little bit of everything for them.”
Tuesday’s meeting will feature a pair of premier point guards as Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford scored a Neville Arena career-high 25 points Saturday against Alabama while notching seven assists for the second straight game.
After starting the season with 16 consecutive wins, Vanderbilt has lost four of its past seven games. Among the Commodores’ six SEC wins are victories over Alabama and Kentucky.
“Great opportunity,” Pearl said. “Their analytics are off the charts, as far as their number in the NET (No. 14) but also their efficiencies on offense and defense. They’ve got some special players on their team. Really high-powered offense and they’re a very efficient defense as well.”
Duke Miles averages 16.6 points per game for Vanderbilt and Tyler Nickel chips in 14.6 while ranking No. 5 nationally with a sizzling 45-percent 3-point shooting percentage.
Auburn (14-9, 5-5) hosts No. 15 Vanderbilt (19-4, 6-4) Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network and the Auburn Sports Network, where Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will call the action.
Auburn University students will receive free Tiger bucket hats, with Pearl hoping The Jungle and the rest of the Nevile Arena crowd will replicate the rowdy environment they created Saturday against Alabama.
“I know our guys appreciate it and so does our staff,” Pearl said. “Another great opportunity to bounce back and play a really good Vanderbilt team.”
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
Keyshawn Hall is the SEC’s second leading scorer at 21.0 points per game. Hall looks for his fifth-consecutive 20+ point outing on Tuesday. He has scored 20+ points in 14 of his 22 games this year.
KeShawn Murphy is coming off his third double-double of the season and is averaging 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game during SEC action. All three of Murphy’s double-doubles have come during league play.
The Tigers are averaging 92.5 points per game at home this season. Vanderbilt allows 73.7 ppg overall.
Auburn winning the battle in the paint will be crucial against Vanderbilt, who ranks 13th nationally in 3-point percentage defense. Auburn has out-scored 14 of its 23 opponents in the paint, including 8-of-10 in SEC play, and will need to once again be solid in this category to win the game.
Vanderbilt is Auburn’s 13th game against a Quad 1 opponent, and third straight. Following the Commodores, three of Auburn’s next four games are also against Quad 1 opponents.
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Could Auburn expand its rotation? What Steven Pearl said
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
Rotations typically tend to shrink toward the end of a college basketball season, but head coach Steven Pearl said Auburn’s may expand going into its final eight regular season games.
Pearl was asked specifically about Simon Walker and Abdul Bashir on Monday, two reserve guards who have played sparingly this season. Both players have dealt with injuries at different points of this season, but both could add more 3-point shooting to the rotation.
Walker, a freshman from Huntsville, missed the start of the season with a foot injury, but has played in nine games since making his debut against Jackson State. He’s averaging 3.3 points per game, but hasn’t played since Auburn’s win over South Carolina on Jan. 17.
Despite not seeing the floor in each of the past five games, Pearl said he and the staff are looking into putting Walker back in the rotation for specific scenarios.
"We may look at inserting Simon in some minutes at the 2 if [Kevin Overton] is going to play some 1," Pearl said. “We’re still kind of going back and forth on that.”
In the minutes Walker has played, he’s been known for his 3-point shooting. He’s 8-for-15 from beyond the arc this season, making all five of his attempts in his debut.
For Bashir, the path back to playing time isn’t as clear. He hasn’t played since Auburn’s win over Jackson State on Nov. 19, with a back injury sidelining him.
Pearl said Bashir is still recovering from that injury and didn’t provide a timeline for when he could return to game action.
“Abdul’s still kind of coming back and rehabbing his back. We’re not going to rush his process, because back injuries are touchy,” Pearl said. “He’s more just in the rehab stages still and just trying to get stronger and more comfortable.”
Bashir is averaging two points per game in five appearances this season. He came to Auburn from the JUCO ranks this offseason, where he averaged 27.2 points per game for Casper College last season.
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Steven Pearl praises Kevin Overton’s move to point guard: ‘He’s confident at that spot’
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn basketball’s Kevin Overton played at point guard for the Tigers in last weekend’s 96-92 loss to Alabama.
Serving as the primary shooting guard this season, Overton’s move to the primary ball-handler created more scoring opportunities. Overton scored 17 points against the Crimson Tide and shot 57.1% from 3-point territory.
“Yeah, it was good. [Kevin Overton] was excited about it and I think it just gives us a little more pop at the point when he’s in there because he obviously can score the ball at a pretty high clip, and he’s confident at that spot and then you can still have Blake or Simon play the two because they have good positional size,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said Monday afternoon.
“So yeah, [Kevin Overton] at the one was good for us offensively, and it gives us potentially a lineup later in the game if we need to get some more size out there defensively,” Pearl added. “So, it gives us some flexibility there. But Vanderbilt’s a team that presses, so I’m sure they’re going to try and press him when he does play the one, so got to be prepared for that.”
Overton is averaging 12.6 points and is shooting 41.9% from the floor this season. In home games he’s averaging 14.4 points and shooting 45.3% from beyond the arc.
However, as Auburn hosts Vanderbilt Tuesday evening Overton will be the primary defender of Commodores guard Tyler Tanner, who’s averaging 18.6 points per game and shooting 48.6% from the floor.
Tanner is also coming off a 37-point game in Vanderbilt’s 92-91 loss to Oklahoma.
“Collective effort. I take every matchup personally, just in terms of what I need to do to guard. That’s going to be a collective effort -- he’s coming off scoring 40 last game, or something like that,” Overton said. “Collective effort overall, and that’s just what it is. I definitely will be the first line of defense, but our switching and the things we do, I won’t be able to guard him the whole game. It really will be a collective effort.”
Tipoff for Auburn (14-9, 5-5) and Vanderbilt (19-4, 6-4) will be at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
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Overton takes on backup point-guard duties as Auburn assesses backcourt
By Nathan King
Auburn knew its backcourt rotation was going to be a work in progress even into the meat of the SEC season, considering the injuries and other setbacks that affected what the Tigers expected entering the year. So Steven Pearl and his staff are still working to get the right combinations in what is, at the moment, an eight-man Auburn lineup.
The latest development is junior Kevin Overton, Auburn's starter at the 2-guard spot all season, getting some extra minutes as the team's backup point guard behind Tahaad Pettiford. That had been a role for walk-on Blake Muschalek, but Overton has been the other ball-handler alongside Pettiford — a bit against Tennessee and even more so against Alabama.
"That lets me know that I'm somebody that's trusted on this team," Overton said before Monday's practice.
Overton played a whopping 38 minutes in the 96-92 loss to Alabama. He's been one of Auburn's best scorers of late — making 10-of-21 triples over his last three games — and that added threat is a boost for the Tigers' offense. Muschalek was 0-of-3 from the floor against Alabama and is only 3-of-13 shooting on the season.
"KO was excited about it, and I think it just gives us a little more pop at the point when he's in there — because he obviously can score the ball at a pretty high clip," Steven Pearl said before Monday's practice. "... It gives us some flexibility there."
Muschalek was thrust into the backup point guard spot after freshman Kaden Magwood was removed from Auburn's lineup last month. Pearl initially said Magwood was serving a suspension for off-the-court issues, then cited the fact that Muschalek was a more "willing" defender.
Auburn expected to have more options in the backcourt this season with 2-guards Simon Walker and Abdul Bashir. The freshman Walker underwent a foot procedure in the preseason and has played only 12 combined minutes in SEC play, but is improving and could add some depth soon, Pearl said. Bashir may not be able to return this season at all after he was bothered by a back issue and only returned to practice a few games ago.
"We may look at inserting Simon in some minutes of the 2 if KO is going to play some 1," Pearl said. "We're still kind of going back and forth on that. … I think Simon is a guy that you could see getting some minutes in the coming games."
Auburn will look to avoid a three-game losing streak when it hosts No. 19 Vanderbilt on Tuesday night (6 p.m. CST, SEC Network).
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Steven Pearl is trying to figure out why teams keep lighting up Auburn from 3-point range
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn basketball’s defense as a whole this season has been up and down, as the Tigers allow around 78 points per game.
However, Auburn’s defense against 3-point shots has been especially problematic in SEC contests. In league games, Auburn’s opponents are shooting 39% from beyond the arc.
Conference opponents are shooting nearly five percent better from 3-point range against the Tigers than their season averages. Florida and Tennessee are the only teams that did not shoot better than their season 3-point average against Auburn.
“Part of it is obviously us trying to be more intentional on being in the gaps, because the first (SEC) game of the year, Georgia, they just drove us because we were so spread out and we just couldn’t let that happen,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said Monday. “But at some point, we’ve got to make an adjustment, too, because teams are shooting a good percentage against us. Can’t keep chalking it up to, ‘teams are making tough shots.’ We’ve got to make adjustments.”
https://twitter.com/i/status/2020311280964497832
“Right now, I’m currently trying to figure out where we can get better. Whether it’s our closeouts, or whether we’re over-helping too much, because when you switch as much as we do, you shouldn’t have to require a ton of help. So, currently in the stages of trying to figure that out,” Pearl added.
Alabama connected on 12 3-pointers in its 96-92 victory over Auburn. The Tigers will host Vanderbilt Tuesday on evening, as the Commodores are shooting 36.2% from beyond the arc this season.
Auburn guard Kevin Overton spoke about how the Tigers’ off-ball defense has hurt them when it comes to defending long range shots.
“I think that just goes back to practice. I don’t think the emphasis overall, collectively, has been to be loaded to the ball now. We kind of got away from it, just taking that week off of not playing. Our switching is what it is but still understanding that we have to be in the right positions off the ball,” Overton said. “I don’t think that was emphasized enough. I mean, guarding the ball, I don’t think we’ve been that good. It just needs to be more resistant overall in our defense.”
Tipoff for Auburn (14-9, 5-5) and Vanderbilt (19-4, 6-4) will be at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
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'Tough shots' aside, Auburn's 3-point defense is reaching new lows
By Nathan King
Before Monday's practice, Steven Pearl said he spent the better part of his morning in his office in Neville Arena, cutting up clips of every 3-point shot against his team in SEC play — where they're coming from, which ones are effective, which ones are open, which ones include ball screens, which ones come in transition — every possible angle.
Pearl is looking for any and all answers.
"We can't keep chalking it up to: Teams are making tough shots," Pearl said. "We've got to make adjustments."
Alabama's explosive, 52-percent outing from beyond the arc in Saturday's win at Auburn underscores a big issue for this team. Yes, the Tigers want more consistent defense across the board — that was always going to be Pearl's talking point for this group, considering all their scoring ability on the other end of the floor — but the 3-point line has become a particularly worrisome trend.
In SEC play, Auburn's opponents are shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc. For reference, there are only five teams in all of college basketball allowing opponents to shoot 39 percent or better on the season. Those teams include Southern Utah, Coppin State and Abilene Christian. It's not exactly the company Pearl wants his group to have with a month until the postseason.
"Once I have a better answer, I'll let you know," Pearl said.
Through 10 SEC games, Florida and Tennessee are the only teams that have not shot better than their season 3-point average against Auburn.
Per game in SEC play, teams are, on average, 4.89 percent better against Auburn from deep than they are against all other teams.
Georgia: 37.9% vs. Auburn (32.0% season avg.)
Texas A&M: 43.3% vs. Auburn (37.0% avg.)
Arkansas: 38.1% vs. Auburn (37.4% avg.)
Missouri: 47.4% vs. Auburn (34.8% avg.)
South Carolina: 32.0% vs. Auburn (30.9% avg.)
Ole Miss: 35.7% vs. Auburn (33.9% avg.)
Florida: 25.9% vs. Auburn (28.8% avg.)
Texas: 46.2% vs. Auburn (34.1% avg.)
Tennessee: 30.8% vs. Auburn (35.2% avg.)
Alabama: 52.2% vs. Auburn (35.5% avg.)
Auburn was effective in running the Crimson Tide off the 3-point line early on, but a string of three straight triples toward the end of the first half began Auburn's defensive downfall. Alabama proceeded to shoot 7-of-12 from deep in the second half en route to a 52 percent mark for the game — its best clip of the season.
Pearl said Auburn's issues were systematic more than any individual matchup. The Tigers were getting out of position away from the ball and not offering enough help in sealing the "gaps," which Pearl has harped on for months.
"It was our off-the-ball defense," Pearl said. "We were out of position off the ball too many times, especially in ball screens. And if you do that against (Vanderbilt), you're screwed. So we gotta do a great job off the ball of really loading to it and showing help multiple times in the Alabama game. The ball screen's happening over here, and we're guarding a guy in the corner, and we're just completely face-guarding or we're all the way over there because we're worried about him shooting the ball, as opposed to loading to it and offering help and assistance to the guys in the ball screen."
Junior guard Kevin Overton wondered Monday whether the Tigers were a bit rusty with their defensive execution after not playing a midweek game. The poor 3-point defense has been an issue in much more than just the Alabama game, though.
"We kinda got away from it, just taking that week off of not playing," Overton. "Our switching is what it is, but still understanding that we have to be in the right positions off the ball."
Auburn doesn't have much time to get things in order before another big offensive challenge. No. 19 Vanderbilt has had a top-15 offense all season and is the third-best shooting team in the SEC from 3-point range.
The Commodores run "Spain" action, as Pearl explained using a guard as a screener and forcing the perimeter defense to make a tough decision at the top of the action.
It will be a substantial challenge, but Pearl knows it will also be a heck of a time for his team to bring some of those 3-point averages down.
"They just run a lot of really good stuff," Pearl said. "Our guys got to be really connected and really got to lock into the scouting report to be able to cover them."
Auburn tips off against the Commodores on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. CST (SEC Network).
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VIDEO: Pearl Previews Vanderbilt
By Jay G. Tate
Auburn’s defense, specifically its off-ball defense, failed in a big way last weekend.
Alabama was able to score 96 points and shoot better than 50 percent in both halves of its victory inside Neville Arena. Coach Steven Pearl said Monday that he’s still studying to better understand why opponents are having so much success getting open shots (and hitting open shots) against the Tigers this season.
He doesn’t have much time. Vanderbilt, which visits the Plains on Tuesday night, is one of the league’s best scoring and shooting teams.
“We were out of position off the ball too many times, especially in ball screens,” Pearl said of the Tigers 96-92 loss on Saturday. “If you do that against (Vanderbilt), you’re screwed.”
Watch the rest of his interview below … or click for the highlights via the links listed below.
https://youtu.be/GS4Fwaaten8
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Top-25 overall recruit Anderson Diaz visited Auburn for Tigers' game against Alabama
By Joe Tipton
Anderson Diaz, one of the top point guards in the 2027 class, took an unofficial visit to Auburn on Saturday, February 7th to watch the Tigers play Alabama, he told Rivals.
The 6-foot-1 junior out of Overtime Elite (GA) holds offers from both Auburn and Alabama. He’s also received scholarships from St. John’s, Cincinnati, Seton Hall, Villanova, Illinois, UCLA, Louisville, Ole Miss, Providence, Syracuse, Arkansas, Miami, Maryland, Florida State, and others.
Diaz, originally from the Bronx, New York, is ranked as the No. 24 overall player in the 2027 class, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Playing with the Cold Hearts in the Overtime Elite league, Diaz averaged 17.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game during the regular season.
Diaz on Auburn
In a previous interview with Rivals, Anderson Diaz discussed the Tigers.
“Tahaad (Pettiford) is my guy. I really started watching them once Sharife (Cooper) was around. I just like the way they used Sharife, and Tahaad, as well, and then Sharife and Tahaad are players that I like to watch.”
What he’s looking for in a school
In that same previous interview with Rivals, Diaz discussed what he wants in his future college.
“I want to go to a school that’s going to provide me the right resources to get me to where I got to go. A school that’s gonna keep the success flowing, and that needs me to win. I will choose the school that’s just the perfect fit for me. That’s that I just feel like I’m at home. ?That’s what I’m looking for.”
More on Diaz
”I’m a gritty guard plays both ends of the ball,” Diaz told Rivals previously. “A point guard who can get wherever I want, and I can shoot the ball well. I would say I’ve developed every aspect of my game over the summer, because I got stronger, my shot got way better, and my handle got tighter. I’m just getting better every day and I work on everything every day. ?
“I watch a lot of Kyrie Irving. because of the way he gets to the basket. Just his way with the basketball. I watch De’Angelo Russell and Mike Conley, too. How Conley uses both hands, left and right and how smooth Russell is.”
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Alabama finally learns it can't do everything it wants when it comes to NCAA rules
By Brian Stultz
Sometimes common sense is the answer, but in Alabama athletics, that is not always the case. In Nate Oats’ attempt to bring back Charles Bediako, a player who left the Crimson Tide in 2023 for the NBA only to see his dreams fail, he and Bediako’s representation used almost every excuse possible.
The player’s attorney argued that without the basketball scholarship, he wouldn’t be able to get an education. He had that opportunity the first time, when he was on scholarship, but gave it up for his professional dreams.
Oats argued that players coming over from Europe were the same, except for one factor: they had not foregone their college eligibility after being given a chance.
On Monday, the Crimson Tide were hit with what they tend to handle the worst: the truth. Judge Daniel Pruet denied an injunction that ruled Bediako ineligible to play for Oats’ squad for the rest of the season. This comes after the original judge, who just so happens to be a major Alabama booster, ruled in Bediako's favor in the first place. The judge eventually had to recuse himself from the case, but not before Auburn head coach Steven Pearl called it, as he put it, a “slippery slope” for former professional players returning to the college ranks.
Charles Bediako's presence puts an entire foul smell on Alabama's season
On Saturday, Bediako played a key role in the Crimson Tide’s victory in Neville Arena over Auburn, scoring 12 points in the 96-92 Alabama win. While Dick Vitale, who has certainly heard worse over his 60 years of broadcasting basketball, clutched his pearls as the Auburn crowd chanted, “G-League Drop-Out!,” the Tigers were going against a player who, in the end, would be deemed ineligible less than 48 hours later.
But that’s how Alabama rolls. They are used to getting their way because the SEC office is in Birmingham, just a short car ride from Tuscaloosa and a city dominated by powerful Alabama alums. Two years ago, Oats defended a player, Brandon Miller, who was allegedly involved in a murder, only for the Tuscaloosa County courts to see the otherside despite evidence. And when another team is accused of cheating, much like Auburn with Cam Newton in 2010, the Crimson Tide faithful can’t keep to themselves, with high-ranking people in the athletic departmet to greet the quarterback when he took the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium with a rendition of “Take the Money and Run,” only to blame and fire an intern a week later for the music choice.
Now, the Crimson Tide faces a conundrum in the fact that they played an ineligible player for five games for the sake of, well, hoping to win those five games. If their goal was to get a few wins, congratulations. If it was to set up a man for failure by allowing him to return to his glory days in college, they also achieved that, just for a few what will now be deemed worthless victories.
Oats will cry all he wants, but with the NCAA speaking out in favor of the decision, it is going to take some major maneuvering for Bediako to suit up in a Crimson Tide uniform again.
Common sense finally prevails.
Where Auburn basketball ranks in KenPom after loss to Alabama:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/mens-basketball/2026/02/08/auburn-basketball-kenpom-ranking-alabama-sec/88579950007/
Steven Pearl reacts to lack of foul calls on drives vs. Alabama:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/steven-pearl-reacts-to-lack-of-foul-calls-on-drives-vs-alabama/ar-AA1VW94i?ocid=winp2fptaskbarent&cvid=5f4132053b6a438af8c8e447cd51957d&ei=19
Auburn to host No. 19 Vanderbilt on Tuesday:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2026/02/9/auburn-to-host-no-19-vanderbilt-on-tuesday
Could Auburn expand its rotation? What Steven Pearl said:
https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/2026/02/could-auburn-expand-its-rotation-what-steven-pearl-said.html
Steven Pearl praises Kevin Overton’s move to point guard: ‘He’s confident at that spot’:
https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/2026/02/steven-pearl-praises-kevin-overtons-move-to-point-guard-hes-confident-at-that-spot.html
Overton takes on backup point-guard duties as Auburn assesses backcourt:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-basketball-tahaad-pettiford-blake-muschalek-kevin-overton-273753525/
Steven Pearl is trying to figure out why teams keep lighting up Auburn from 3-point range:
https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/2026/02/steven-pearl-is-trying-to-figure-out-why-teams-keep-lighting-up-auburn-from-3-point-range.html
'Tough shots' aside, Auburn's 3-point defense is reaching new lows:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-basketball-defense-3-point-alabama-tigers-2026-273757433/
VIDEO: Pearl Previews Vanderbilt:
https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/news/video-pearl-previews-vanderbilt/
Top-25 overall recruit Anderson Diaz visited Auburn for Tigers' game against Alabama:
https://www.on3.com/rivals/news/top-25-overall-recruit-anderson-diaz-visited-auburn-for-tigers-game-against-alabama/
Alabama finally learns it can't do everything it wants when it comes to NCAA rules:
https://flywareagle.com/alabama-finally-learns-it-can-t-do-everything-it-wants-when-it-comes-to-ncaa-rules-01kh2gntn2pv
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Where Auburn basketball ranks in KenPom after loss to Alabama
By Jac Myrick
Auburn Wire
The Auburn Tigers basketball fell to Alabama at home Saturday, Feb. 7, 96-92. This marks the Tigers' fifth loss in conference play; they now sit at 5-5 in the SEC and overall 14-9.
Auburn let one slip away late in the game to the Tide. The Tigers held the lead for 60% of the game and led by as much as 10. Sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford led the team with 25 points, shooting 3-of-8 from the three-point line.
Late in the contest, fouls became a factor. The Tigers allowed the Tide to get to the free-throw line, and they shot an efficient 87%. Auburn just couldn't get back in the last two minutes.
The Tigers are set to host another home game this upcoming Wednesday, Feb. 10. So, where does the Tigers rank in the latest KenPom rankings? Here is a look at Auburn according to every major statistical in KenPom.
Overall No. 30
Auburn fell three spots from its previous rank of No. 27 to No. 30. The Tigers have an overall efficiency score of +21.97.
Offensive efficiency: No. 12
KenPom rated the Tigers' offensive efficiency score a 125.4, ranking Auburn No. 12 in their offensive efficiency rankings.
Defensive efficiency: No. 70
The Tigers have sat around the top-70 in the KenPom defensive efficiency ranking all season long. Auburn comes in at No. 70 with a score of 103.4.
Adjusted tempo: No. 172
The Tigers rank No. 172 in KenPom's adjusted tempo with an average of 67.4 possessions per game.
Strength of schedule: No. 2
Auburn shown to have one of the toughest schedules in college basketball, again in the top-5 of KenPom strength of schedule.
Vanderbilt overview
Wednesday, Feb. 10, the No. 15 Vanderbilt Commodores are coming to take on the Auburn Tigers in Neville Arena. Where does the Commodores rank in KenPom statistics? Here is a look at Vanderbilt in KenPom's statistical rankings.
Overall: No. 14
Adjusted offensive efficiency: No. 14 (124.2)
Adjusted defensive efficiency: No. 18 (97.3)
Adjusted tempo: No. 38 (70.2)
Strength of schedule: No. 33 (+9.55)
Projected winner of the game: Auburn (51%)
Implied score: Auburn 82, Vanderbilt 81
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Steven Pearl reacts to lack of foul calls on drives vs. Alabama
By Grant Grubbs
On Saturday, Auburn fell 96-92 to Alabama. After the game, Auburn head coach Steven Pearl remained neutral when asked if he felt like the officials missed calls on the Tigers’ drives to the basket.
“We took 43 2-point attempts. I thought we attacked the paint pretty hard,” Pearl said. “I’ve got to watch the film and see if there were some possessions where we didn’t get fouls. I thought we did a pretty good job attacking the rim, playing off two (feet) and trying to finish through contact. I’ll have to watch the film and see if it should have been more. Not really sure.”
As Pearl mentioned, Auburn got plenty of shots up inside the paint. In turn, the team shot 22 free throws in the loss, making 17. In comparison, Alabama shot 23 despite shooting seven fewer 2-pointers in the contest.
For reference, Auburn averages 28.4 free-throw attempts per game, the second-most in college basketball. Auburn was called for one more foul than Alabama in the in-state showdown.
Any potential missed calls were far from the only reason for Auburn’s loss. The Tigers shot just 9-28 (32%) from 3-point range in the loss.
Additionally, Auburn’s bench was lackluster, only contributing seven points in the game. Meanwhile, Alabama’s bench combined for four times as many points. Nonetheless, Steven Pearl isn’t concerned about the team’s offense.
“Our bench production has been better,” Pearl said. “Elyjah [Freeman] has been a spark, but him being in foul trouble, that’s where a lot of the production comes from. But the offense has nothing to do with it.
“Like, we scored 92 points. That should be enough to win any game in our league. Tahaad [Pettiford] had a better offensive performance. KO was making some shots. Four of our best offensive players had pretty good nights. Had nothing to do with our offense, has everything to do with our defense. If we want to win games, we’ll sit down and guard like we did when he had that four-game stretch a couple weeks ago.”
With the loss, Auburn fell to 14-9 overall and 5-5 in conference play this season. The loss was Auburn’s second in a row. The team fell 77-69 to Tennessee in their previous outing.
Life isn’t about to get any easier for the Tigers. On Tuesday, Auburn will square off against No. 15 Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. ET. The game will air live on the SEC Network.
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Auburn to host No. 19 Vanderbilt on Tuesday
By Jeff Shearer
Noting No. 19 Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner’s 37-point explosion Saturday against Oklahoma, Auburn’s Kevin Overton flips into Michael Jordan “The Last Dance” mode.
“I take every matchup personally,” said the junior guard, who leads Auburn with 33 steals, “in terms of what I need to do to guard the ball. That’s going to be a collective effort, especially the way he’s playing right now.”
Vanderbilt’s leading scorer, Tanner averages 18.6 points and 5.3 assists per game, helping the Commodores produce the nation’s No. 12 offense at 88.9 points per game.
“I definitely will be the first line of defense but with our switching and the things we do, I know I won’t be able to guard him the whole game,” said Overton, who also logged minutes at point guard Saturday against Alabama. “So, it’s really a collective effort.”
“Tyler Tanner is one of the best point guards in all of college basketball,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said. “He does a little bit of everything for them.”
Tuesday’s meeting will feature a pair of premier point guards as Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford scored a Neville Arena career-high 25 points Saturday against Alabama while notching seven assists for the second straight game.
After starting the season with 16 consecutive wins, Vanderbilt has lost four of its past seven games. Among the Commodores’ six SEC wins are victories over Alabama and Kentucky.
“Great opportunity,” Pearl said. “Their analytics are off the charts, as far as their number in the NET (No. 14) but also their efficiencies on offense and defense. They’ve got some special players on their team. Really high-powered offense and they’re a very efficient defense as well.”
Duke Miles averages 16.6 points per game for Vanderbilt and Tyler Nickel chips in 14.6 while ranking No. 5 nationally with a sizzling 45-percent 3-point shooting percentage.
Auburn (14-9, 5-5) hosts No. 15 Vanderbilt (19-4, 6-4) Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network and the Auburn Sports Network, where Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will call the action.
Auburn University students will receive free Tiger bucket hats, with Pearl hoping The Jungle and the rest of the Nevile Arena crowd will replicate the rowdy environment they created Saturday against Alabama.
“I know our guys appreciate it and so does our staff,” Pearl said. “Another great opportunity to bounce back and play a really good Vanderbilt team.”
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
Keyshawn Hall is the SEC’s second leading scorer at 21.0 points per game. Hall looks for his fifth-consecutive 20+ point outing on Tuesday. He has scored 20+ points in 14 of his 22 games this year.
KeShawn Murphy is coming off his third double-double of the season and is averaging 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game during SEC action. All three of Murphy’s double-doubles have come during league play.
The Tigers are averaging 92.5 points per game at home this season. Vanderbilt allows 73.7 ppg overall.
Auburn winning the battle in the paint will be crucial against Vanderbilt, who ranks 13th nationally in 3-point percentage defense. Auburn has out-scored 14 of its 23 opponents in the paint, including 8-of-10 in SEC play, and will need to once again be solid in this category to win the game.
Vanderbilt is Auburn’s 13th game against a Quad 1 opponent, and third straight. Following the Commodores, three of Auburn’s next four games are also against Quad 1 opponents.
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Could Auburn expand its rotation? What Steven Pearl said
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
Rotations typically tend to shrink toward the end of a college basketball season, but head coach Steven Pearl said Auburn’s may expand going into its final eight regular season games.
Pearl was asked specifically about Simon Walker and Abdul Bashir on Monday, two reserve guards who have played sparingly this season. Both players have dealt with injuries at different points of this season, but both could add more 3-point shooting to the rotation.
Walker, a freshman from Huntsville, missed the start of the season with a foot injury, but has played in nine games since making his debut against Jackson State. He’s averaging 3.3 points per game, but hasn’t played since Auburn’s win over South Carolina on Jan. 17.
Despite not seeing the floor in each of the past five games, Pearl said he and the staff are looking into putting Walker back in the rotation for specific scenarios.
"We may look at inserting Simon in some minutes at the 2 if [Kevin Overton] is going to play some 1," Pearl said. “We’re still kind of going back and forth on that.”
In the minutes Walker has played, he’s been known for his 3-point shooting. He’s 8-for-15 from beyond the arc this season, making all five of his attempts in his debut.
For Bashir, the path back to playing time isn’t as clear. He hasn’t played since Auburn’s win over Jackson State on Nov. 19, with a back injury sidelining him.
Pearl said Bashir is still recovering from that injury and didn’t provide a timeline for when he could return to game action.
“Abdul’s still kind of coming back and rehabbing his back. We’re not going to rush his process, because back injuries are touchy,” Pearl said. “He’s more just in the rehab stages still and just trying to get stronger and more comfortable.”
Bashir is averaging two points per game in five appearances this season. He came to Auburn from the JUCO ranks this offseason, where he averaged 27.2 points per game for Casper College last season.
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Steven Pearl praises Kevin Overton’s move to point guard: ‘He’s confident at that spot’
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn basketball’s Kevin Overton played at point guard for the Tigers in last weekend’s 96-92 loss to Alabama.
Serving as the primary shooting guard this season, Overton’s move to the primary ball-handler created more scoring opportunities. Overton scored 17 points against the Crimson Tide and shot 57.1% from 3-point territory.
“Yeah, it was good. [Kevin Overton] was excited about it and I think it just gives us a little more pop at the point when he’s in there because he obviously can score the ball at a pretty high clip, and he’s confident at that spot and then you can still have Blake or Simon play the two because they have good positional size,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said Monday afternoon.
“So yeah, [Kevin Overton] at the one was good for us offensively, and it gives us potentially a lineup later in the game if we need to get some more size out there defensively,” Pearl added. “So, it gives us some flexibility there. But Vanderbilt’s a team that presses, so I’m sure they’re going to try and press him when he does play the one, so got to be prepared for that.”
Overton is averaging 12.6 points and is shooting 41.9% from the floor this season. In home games he’s averaging 14.4 points and shooting 45.3% from beyond the arc.
However, as Auburn hosts Vanderbilt Tuesday evening Overton will be the primary defender of Commodores guard Tyler Tanner, who’s averaging 18.6 points per game and shooting 48.6% from the floor.
Tanner is also coming off a 37-point game in Vanderbilt’s 92-91 loss to Oklahoma.
“Collective effort. I take every matchup personally, just in terms of what I need to do to guard. That’s going to be a collective effort -- he’s coming off scoring 40 last game, or something like that,” Overton said. “Collective effort overall, and that’s just what it is. I definitely will be the first line of defense, but our switching and the things we do, I won’t be able to guard him the whole game. It really will be a collective effort.”
Tipoff for Auburn (14-9, 5-5) and Vanderbilt (19-4, 6-4) will be at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
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Overton takes on backup point-guard duties as Auburn assesses backcourt
By Nathan King
Auburn knew its backcourt rotation was going to be a work in progress even into the meat of the SEC season, considering the injuries and other setbacks that affected what the Tigers expected entering the year. So Steven Pearl and his staff are still working to get the right combinations in what is, at the moment, an eight-man Auburn lineup.
The latest development is junior Kevin Overton, Auburn's starter at the 2-guard spot all season, getting some extra minutes as the team's backup point guard behind Tahaad Pettiford. That had been a role for walk-on Blake Muschalek, but Overton has been the other ball-handler alongside Pettiford — a bit against Tennessee and even more so against Alabama.
"That lets me know that I'm somebody that's trusted on this team," Overton said before Monday's practice.
Overton played a whopping 38 minutes in the 96-92 loss to Alabama. He's been one of Auburn's best scorers of late — making 10-of-21 triples over his last three games — and that added threat is a boost for the Tigers' offense. Muschalek was 0-of-3 from the floor against Alabama and is only 3-of-13 shooting on the season.
"KO was excited about it, and I think it just gives us a little more pop at the point when he's in there — because he obviously can score the ball at a pretty high clip," Steven Pearl said before Monday's practice. "... It gives us some flexibility there."
Muschalek was thrust into the backup point guard spot after freshman Kaden Magwood was removed from Auburn's lineup last month. Pearl initially said Magwood was serving a suspension for off-the-court issues, then cited the fact that Muschalek was a more "willing" defender.
Auburn expected to have more options in the backcourt this season with 2-guards Simon Walker and Abdul Bashir. The freshman Walker underwent a foot procedure in the preseason and has played only 12 combined minutes in SEC play, but is improving and could add some depth soon, Pearl said. Bashir may not be able to return this season at all after he was bothered by a back issue and only returned to practice a few games ago.
"We may look at inserting Simon in some minutes of the 2 if KO is going to play some 1," Pearl said. "We're still kind of going back and forth on that. … I think Simon is a guy that you could see getting some minutes in the coming games."
Auburn will look to avoid a three-game losing streak when it hosts No. 19 Vanderbilt on Tuesday night (6 p.m. CST, SEC Network).
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Steven Pearl is trying to figure out why teams keep lighting up Auburn from 3-point range
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn basketball’s defense as a whole this season has been up and down, as the Tigers allow around 78 points per game.
However, Auburn’s defense against 3-point shots has been especially problematic in SEC contests. In league games, Auburn’s opponents are shooting 39% from beyond the arc.
Conference opponents are shooting nearly five percent better from 3-point range against the Tigers than their season averages. Florida and Tennessee are the only teams that did not shoot better than their season 3-point average against Auburn.
“Part of it is obviously us trying to be more intentional on being in the gaps, because the first (SEC) game of the year, Georgia, they just drove us because we were so spread out and we just couldn’t let that happen,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said Monday. “But at some point, we’ve got to make an adjustment, too, because teams are shooting a good percentage against us. Can’t keep chalking it up to, ‘teams are making tough shots.’ We’ve got to make adjustments.”
https://twitter.com/i/status/2020311280964497832
“Right now, I’m currently trying to figure out where we can get better. Whether it’s our closeouts, or whether we’re over-helping too much, because when you switch as much as we do, you shouldn’t have to require a ton of help. So, currently in the stages of trying to figure that out,” Pearl added.
Alabama connected on 12 3-pointers in its 96-92 victory over Auburn. The Tigers will host Vanderbilt Tuesday on evening, as the Commodores are shooting 36.2% from beyond the arc this season.
Auburn guard Kevin Overton spoke about how the Tigers’ off-ball defense has hurt them when it comes to defending long range shots.
“I think that just goes back to practice. I don’t think the emphasis overall, collectively, has been to be loaded to the ball now. We kind of got away from it, just taking that week off of not playing. Our switching is what it is but still understanding that we have to be in the right positions off the ball,” Overton said. “I don’t think that was emphasized enough. I mean, guarding the ball, I don’t think we’ve been that good. It just needs to be more resistant overall in our defense.”
Tipoff for Auburn (14-9, 5-5) and Vanderbilt (19-4, 6-4) will be at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
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'Tough shots' aside, Auburn's 3-point defense is reaching new lows
By Nathan King
Before Monday's practice, Steven Pearl said he spent the better part of his morning in his office in Neville Arena, cutting up clips of every 3-point shot against his team in SEC play — where they're coming from, which ones are effective, which ones are open, which ones include ball screens, which ones come in transition — every possible angle.
Pearl is looking for any and all answers.
"We can't keep chalking it up to: Teams are making tough shots," Pearl said. "We've got to make adjustments."
Alabama's explosive, 52-percent outing from beyond the arc in Saturday's win at Auburn underscores a big issue for this team. Yes, the Tigers want more consistent defense across the board — that was always going to be Pearl's talking point for this group, considering all their scoring ability on the other end of the floor — but the 3-point line has become a particularly worrisome trend.
In SEC play, Auburn's opponents are shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc. For reference, there are only five teams in all of college basketball allowing opponents to shoot 39 percent or better on the season. Those teams include Southern Utah, Coppin State and Abilene Christian. It's not exactly the company Pearl wants his group to have with a month until the postseason.
"Once I have a better answer, I'll let you know," Pearl said.
Through 10 SEC games, Florida and Tennessee are the only teams that have not shot better than their season 3-point average against Auburn.
Per game in SEC play, teams are, on average, 4.89 percent better against Auburn from deep than they are against all other teams.
Georgia: 37.9% vs. Auburn (32.0% season avg.)
Texas A&M: 43.3% vs. Auburn (37.0% avg.)
Arkansas: 38.1% vs. Auburn (37.4% avg.)
Missouri: 47.4% vs. Auburn (34.8% avg.)
South Carolina: 32.0% vs. Auburn (30.9% avg.)
Ole Miss: 35.7% vs. Auburn (33.9% avg.)
Florida: 25.9% vs. Auburn (28.8% avg.)
Texas: 46.2% vs. Auburn (34.1% avg.)
Tennessee: 30.8% vs. Auburn (35.2% avg.)
Alabama: 52.2% vs. Auburn (35.5% avg.)
Auburn was effective in running the Crimson Tide off the 3-point line early on, but a string of three straight triples toward the end of the first half began Auburn's defensive downfall. Alabama proceeded to shoot 7-of-12 from deep in the second half en route to a 52 percent mark for the game — its best clip of the season.
Pearl said Auburn's issues were systematic more than any individual matchup. The Tigers were getting out of position away from the ball and not offering enough help in sealing the "gaps," which Pearl has harped on for months.
"It was our off-the-ball defense," Pearl said. "We were out of position off the ball too many times, especially in ball screens. And if you do that against (Vanderbilt), you're screwed. So we gotta do a great job off the ball of really loading to it and showing help multiple times in the Alabama game. The ball screen's happening over here, and we're guarding a guy in the corner, and we're just completely face-guarding or we're all the way over there because we're worried about him shooting the ball, as opposed to loading to it and offering help and assistance to the guys in the ball screen."
Junior guard Kevin Overton wondered Monday whether the Tigers were a bit rusty with their defensive execution after not playing a midweek game. The poor 3-point defense has been an issue in much more than just the Alabama game, though.
"We kinda got away from it, just taking that week off of not playing," Overton. "Our switching is what it is, but still understanding that we have to be in the right positions off the ball."
Auburn doesn't have much time to get things in order before another big offensive challenge. No. 19 Vanderbilt has had a top-15 offense all season and is the third-best shooting team in the SEC from 3-point range.
The Commodores run "Spain" action, as Pearl explained using a guard as a screener and forcing the perimeter defense to make a tough decision at the top of the action.
It will be a substantial challenge, but Pearl knows it will also be a heck of a time for his team to bring some of those 3-point averages down.
"They just run a lot of really good stuff," Pearl said. "Our guys got to be really connected and really got to lock into the scouting report to be able to cover them."
Auburn tips off against the Commodores on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. CST (SEC Network).
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VIDEO: Pearl Previews Vanderbilt
By Jay G. Tate
Auburn’s defense, specifically its off-ball defense, failed in a big way last weekend.
Alabama was able to score 96 points and shoot better than 50 percent in both halves of its victory inside Neville Arena. Coach Steven Pearl said Monday that he’s still studying to better understand why opponents are having so much success getting open shots (and hitting open shots) against the Tigers this season.
He doesn’t have much time. Vanderbilt, which visits the Plains on Tuesday night, is one of the league’s best scoring and shooting teams.
“We were out of position off the ball too many times, especially in ball screens,” Pearl said of the Tigers 96-92 loss on Saturday. “If you do that against (Vanderbilt), you’re screwed.”
Watch the rest of his interview below … or click for the highlights via the links listed below.
https://youtu.be/GS4Fwaaten8
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Top-25 overall recruit Anderson Diaz visited Auburn for Tigers' game against Alabama
By Joe Tipton
Anderson Diaz, one of the top point guards in the 2027 class, took an unofficial visit to Auburn on Saturday, February 7th to watch the Tigers play Alabama, he told Rivals.
The 6-foot-1 junior out of Overtime Elite (GA) holds offers from both Auburn and Alabama. He’s also received scholarships from St. John’s, Cincinnati, Seton Hall, Villanova, Illinois, UCLA, Louisville, Ole Miss, Providence, Syracuse, Arkansas, Miami, Maryland, Florida State, and others.
Diaz, originally from the Bronx, New York, is ranked as the No. 24 overall player in the 2027 class, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Playing with the Cold Hearts in the Overtime Elite league, Diaz averaged 17.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game during the regular season.
Diaz on Auburn
In a previous interview with Rivals, Anderson Diaz discussed the Tigers.
“Tahaad (Pettiford) is my guy. I really started watching them once Sharife (Cooper) was around. I just like the way they used Sharife, and Tahaad, as well, and then Sharife and Tahaad are players that I like to watch.”
What he’s looking for in a school
In that same previous interview with Rivals, Diaz discussed what he wants in his future college.
“I want to go to a school that’s going to provide me the right resources to get me to where I got to go. A school that’s gonna keep the success flowing, and that needs me to win. I will choose the school that’s just the perfect fit for me. That’s that I just feel like I’m at home. ?That’s what I’m looking for.”
More on Diaz
”I’m a gritty guard plays both ends of the ball,” Diaz told Rivals previously. “A point guard who can get wherever I want, and I can shoot the ball well. I would say I’ve developed every aspect of my game over the summer, because I got stronger, my shot got way better, and my handle got tighter. I’m just getting better every day and I work on everything every day. ?
“I watch a lot of Kyrie Irving. because of the way he gets to the basket. Just his way with the basketball. I watch De’Angelo Russell and Mike Conley, too. How Conley uses both hands, left and right and how smooth Russell is.”
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Alabama finally learns it can't do everything it wants when it comes to NCAA rules
By Brian Stultz
Sometimes common sense is the answer, but in Alabama athletics, that is not always the case. In Nate Oats’ attempt to bring back Charles Bediako, a player who left the Crimson Tide in 2023 for the NBA only to see his dreams fail, he and Bediako’s representation used almost every excuse possible.
The player’s attorney argued that without the basketball scholarship, he wouldn’t be able to get an education. He had that opportunity the first time, when he was on scholarship, but gave it up for his professional dreams.
Oats argued that players coming over from Europe were the same, except for one factor: they had not foregone their college eligibility after being given a chance.
On Monday, the Crimson Tide were hit with what they tend to handle the worst: the truth. Judge Daniel Pruet denied an injunction that ruled Bediako ineligible to play for Oats’ squad for the rest of the season. This comes after the original judge, who just so happens to be a major Alabama booster, ruled in Bediako's favor in the first place. The judge eventually had to recuse himself from the case, but not before Auburn head coach Steven Pearl called it, as he put it, a “slippery slope” for former professional players returning to the college ranks.
Charles Bediako's presence puts an entire foul smell on Alabama's season
On Saturday, Bediako played a key role in the Crimson Tide’s victory in Neville Arena over Auburn, scoring 12 points in the 96-92 Alabama win. While Dick Vitale, who has certainly heard worse over his 60 years of broadcasting basketball, clutched his pearls as the Auburn crowd chanted, “G-League Drop-Out!,” the Tigers were going against a player who, in the end, would be deemed ineligible less than 48 hours later.
But that’s how Alabama rolls. They are used to getting their way because the SEC office is in Birmingham, just a short car ride from Tuscaloosa and a city dominated by powerful Alabama alums. Two years ago, Oats defended a player, Brandon Miller, who was allegedly involved in a murder, only for the Tuscaloosa County courts to see the otherside despite evidence. And when another team is accused of cheating, much like Auburn with Cam Newton in 2010, the Crimson Tide faithful can’t keep to themselves, with high-ranking people in the athletic departmet to greet the quarterback when he took the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium with a rendition of “Take the Money and Run,” only to blame and fire an intern a week later for the music choice.
Now, the Crimson Tide faces a conundrum in the fact that they played an ineligible player for five games for the sake of, well, hoping to win those five games. If their goal was to get a few wins, congratulations. If it was to set up a man for failure by allowing him to return to his glory days in college, they also achieved that, just for a few what will now be deemed worthless victories.
Oats will cry all he wants, but with the NCAA speaking out in favor of the decision, it is going to take some major maneuvering for Bediako to suit up in a Crimson Tide uniform again.
Common sense finally prevails.
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