Tag: bruce pearl

Former High Point guard Duke Miles set to visit Auburn

Auburn basketball is still trying to do work in the transfer portal, as former High Point guard Duke Miles is set to visit the Plains this month.

Auburn basketball is currently trying to fulfill its roster needs for the 2024-25 season, searching for players out of the transfer portal and still on the recruiting trail.

The Tigers have had some success in their efforts so far, and they are looking to continue that with players coming on visits. One of those players is former High Point guard transfer [autotag]Duke Miles[/autotag], who is set to visit the Plains on April 30.

The fifth-year senior is seeking out his third school in his college career after playing for Troy for three years and High Point for one. His 6-3, 182-pound frame has made him a key player across both squads.

Coming out of Montgomery, Alabama, Miles has been in and out of the starting lineup throughout his college career. In his most recent season with the Panthers, he started in 27 out of the 33 games he appeared in and averaged 30.5 minutes per game.

His shooting abilities were highly noticed in the Big South Conference last year. He finished second in the league in scoring average, posting 17.5 points per contest. His 52.8% success rate from the field was ranked at the top of the conference, as well, while also shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc.

Miles is a reliable shooter from the free-throw line, something Auburn is always looking for. He shot 80.1% from the charity stripe in the 2023-24 campaign. He made a season-high 10 free throws on Jan. 10 against UNC Asheville.

Miles was recognized for his work last year. He was named to the Big South All-Tournament Team while also receiving Big South First Team All-Conference honors as well. He was even named the 2023-24 Big South Newcomer of the Year.

Should he commit, he would join the likes of new Auburn commit and former Furman guard [autotag]JP Pegues[/autotag] as part of a veteran guard transfer class for coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag].

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Former guard Aden Holloway hits the road for Tuscaloosa

Just 11 days after he entered the transfer portal, former Auburn guard Aden Holloway commits to in-state rival Alabama and coach Nate Oats

The transfer portal has brought about a lot of drama in the short time since the college basketball season has ended. Many big name players and prospects have made decisions to go to other big name schools for their future.

That cycle got even more dramatic on Saturday, when former Auburn guard and McDonald’s All-American [autotag]Aden Holloway[/autotag] announced his decision to transfer to the University of Alabama.

Holloway spent just one season playing for the Tigers, being in the starting lineup for 26 out of the 35 games this season for head coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag].

He put up 257 points in his freshman campaign, averaging 7.3 per game. His highest scoring performance came in early December when Auburn took on Indiana, where he dropped 24 on the Hoosiers.

Holloway only shot 31.8% on the year, and in the midst of that came a stretch where he could not find the bottom of the net, including in the first match with the Crimson Tide.

He also averaged 1.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, so while he was never a huge threat on the boards, he was able to dish the ball to his teammates for scoring opportunities from time to time.

The former five-star prospect entered the transfer portal on April 9, just 18 days after the Tigers fell to Yale in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

He now commits to an Alabama squad that is coming fresh off of its first ever appearance in the Final Four and was the top scoring offense in the nation at 90.1 points per game.

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Auburn center Johni Broome to return for one more season

After much deliberation on what he route he takes next year, Auburn center Johni Broome announced his plans to return to the Plains.

The college basketball offseason is always cycling news each day, with players and coaches announcing their plans for next season and headlines being made across the board. Fans await decisions from some of the nation’s best players as tension continues to build.

One of those players is Auburn center [autotag]Johni Broome[/autotag], as fans wonder whether he will return to college, transfer, or head to the NBA Draft.

Luckily for Tiger fans, the big man announced that he is returning to the Plains for a fifth season on Wednesday via his social media.

Broome is coming off of a fantastic second year for Auburn. He increased his scoring production in a big way for the program. He put up 576 points for the Tigers in the 2023-24 season, averaging 16.5 points per game.

He was most notably recognized for his defensive efforts, being named as a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award. Broome recorded 299 rebounds on the season, 213 of which were on the defensive end of the court.

Broome also loomed as a threat to any shot that was taken when he was on the court. The center blocked 78 shot attempts for the year, which placed him No. 10 in the nation and No. 1 in the SEC.

The senior started in 34 of the 35 games from last year and averaged 24.8 minutes per game. This is a step down from the 2022-23 season, but he will be expected to see around the same number of minutes next year.

The Tigers now officially return both big men for next season, marking another year with a formidable front court rotation for head coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag].

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Auburn in middle of the pack in the year’s final Associated Press Poll

Following the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament, the final Associated Press Poll puts Auburn basketball in the middle of the pack.

The college basketball season has come to an end with the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament. Now, teams begin preparation for the 2024-25 campaign in the offseason.

It is also time for the nation to see how their favorite team stacked up in the final polls of the year. For Auburn fans, after it fell to Yale in the first round of the tournament, it made the largest drop in the Associated Press Poll to No. 18.

The Tigers lost to the Bulldogs 78-76 in heartbreaking fashion in Spokane, Washington. They were unable to stop a potent attack from 3-point land while also not being able to stay out of foul trouble.

The Alabama Crimson Tide finish as the highest-ranked SEC team in the rankings after their run to the Final Four for the first time in school history, coming in at No. 3. Tennessee finished just behind them in the No. 5 spot after its loss in the Elite Eight to Purdue. Behind Auburn, Kentucky comes in at No. 20 after its shocking first round exit to Oakland, while South Carolina finishes at No. 25 following its loss to Oregon.

As Auburn prepares for next season, [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] will look to make improvements and work in the recruiting battle for the nation’s top players.

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Auburn to officially make the switch from Under Armour to Nike

Auburn’s long-time deal with Under Armour will expire in 2025, paving the way for Nike to become the program’s official uniform provider.

After spending 18 seasons as Auburn’s official uniform and apparel provider, Under Armour will make one last run on the Plains in 2024.

Auburn Athletics announced Tuesday that its deal with Under Armour will end next summer, paving the way for Nike to become the program’s next provider of uniforms, shoes, and apparel. Auburn athletic director [autotag]John Cohen[/autotag] is excited for the next chapter in Tigers’ athletics.

“We are excited to enter this new partnership with Nike, a brand that consistently champions athletes and sport around the world. We are appreciative of their strong support throughout this process. We believe that our 10-year agreement, beginning in July 2025, will continue to elevate Auburn and best serve our student-athletes and our university moving forward. We are also grateful to Kevin Plank and Under Armour for their 18 years of valued partnership in growing the Auburn brand and serving our student athletes, coaches, and fans. We look forward to the opportunity to celebrate this relationship throughout the final year ahead.”

Under Armour became Auburn’s official uniform outfitter in 2006, replacing Auburn’s deal with longtime provider, Russell Athletic. The original contract was for five years and was worth $10.6 million. In 2015, Auburn restructured its contract for 10 years and $78.1 million, plus $10 million in Under Armour stock.

Justin Hokanson of Auburn Live reports that Apple CEO and Auburn alum [autotag]Tim Cook[/autotag] played a major role in negotiations. [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] were also open to moving on from Under Armour in favor of Nike.

Auburn’s current contract with Under Armour will expire in the Summer of 2025, and Nike will become Auburn’s official uniform provider immediately following the final event of the 2024-25 athletic season.

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Bruce Pearl to Kentucky? Auburn’s head man listed among top candidates for vacancy

For someone as successful as Bruce Pearl, it is easy to see why he is a candidate for this attractive vacancy.

Stunningly, Arkansas has tabbed Kentucky’s John Calipari as its next head basketball coach. Calipari will replace Eric Musselman, who bolted for USC last week.

The deal worth nearly $8 million annually was completed in the weekend’s final hours. Now that Arkansas has its man, what is next for Kentucky? The Athletic has pieced together several potential candidates for the attractive vacancy, with a familiar name making the cut.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] is among the nine names that The Athletic believes should get a call from Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart regarding the job. Pearl’s success at Auburn is nothing short of remarkable, making it easy to see why he is considered a target. However, his past could cause Kentucky to look elsewhere says The Athletic’s college basketball staff.

We have long heard that Barnhart would not be interested in hiring someone who has served a three-year NCAA show-cause penalty, but he’s among the multiple SEC coaches who did more than Calipari with less. He won the SEC regular season in 2018 and 2022 and the league tournament in 2019 and 2024. He’s been to a Final Four (Auburn’s only one ever) more recently than Kentucky. So if a bunch of these other candidates say no, Pearl’s previous missteps might suddenly be less offensive to Barnhart. In terms of personality, the carnival-barking Pearl is a perfect fit.

The Athletic is not the only outlet linking Pearl to Kentucky. Before Calipari’s move to Fayetteville, UK Wildcats Wire put Pearl on a shortlist of potential candidates to become Kentucky’s next head coach citing his success in recruiting and SEC competition.

Other names that The Athletic mentions include Baylor’s Scott Drew, Alabama‘s Nate Oats, and former Florida head coach Billy Donovan, who is now leading the Chicago Bulls.

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Former Furman guard JP Pegues visits Auburn

With the frenzy of the transfer portal getting underway, former Furman point guard JP Pegues visited Auburn on Tuesday

The chaos of the transfer portal is starting to get underway in college basketball, with players announcing their exit left and right. [autotag]K.D. Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Tre Donaldson[/autotag] have both already announced that they are leaving the program, which means [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] is in search of another guard.

Luckily for Auburn, the news of two of its guards leaving is attracting some attention from top players, including former Furman point guard [autotag]JP Pegues[/autotag]. The Paladin star made a visit to the Plains on Tuesday.

The junior had an impressive campaign this season, averaging 18.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game during Furman’s 17-16 record in the 2023-24 year. His stats led him to be named to the first-team All-Southern Conference squad.

He already took a visit to South Carolina last weekend before making his trip to Auburn. After a visit that he feels went well, he looks to make one final visit to Florida on April 12 before making a decision.

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Auburn guard Tre Donaldson enters transfer portal

Donaldson leaves the Plains after an impressive sophomore season in which he averaged 6.7 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game.

A week after senior guard [autotag]K.D Johnson[/autotag] decided to leave Auburn and enter the transfer portal, backcourt mate [autotag]Tre Donaldson[/autotag] has joined him. The sophomore guard announced the move on his Instagram early Wednesday morning.

Donaldson leaves the Plains after an impressive sophomore season in which he averaged 6.7 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game. While he played well throughout the season, Donaldson was stuck in a timeshare for minutes at the point guard position alongside 5-star freshman Aden Holloway.

With Holloway yet to decide on whether he will come back to Auburn and 2024 5-star point guard Tahaad Pettiford waiting in the wings, Donaldson may have been locked in the same type of limited minutes per game in his junior season.

Donaldson’s loss could force [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] to the transfer portal himself in hopes of finding a way to replace the assist production his sophomore guard offered. With the Tigers’ guard room depleting, Pearl has a tall task ahead of him in order to get his squad ready for next season.

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KD Johnson aims for increased minutes at new destination

Johnson hopes to make the most out of his final eligible season.

Last week, Auburn fans were disappointed that one of their favorite players announced that he would play his final eligible season elsewhere.

After three seasons on the Plains, guard [autotag]KD Johnson[/autotag] is searching for a new home. Auburn head coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] met with Johnson following the Tigers round of 64 loss to Yale last month, where he says that the postseason conversation was successful. However, it was determined that Johnson’s role would remain the same next season if he were to stay, which forced a tough decision.

For his final season of eligibility, Johnson will look for a program that will allow him to earn more starts, as well as provide him an increase in minutes played.

“We just talked about the fact that… would would the joy of the game be more if perhaps he was someplace else and had more of an opportunity to do more of what KD does?” Pearl said. “Our discussion was really good.”

After starting in 31 of Auburn’s 34 games during the 2021-22 season, Johnson has made just one start, which came in the Tigers’ loss to Mississippi State on Jan. 27. His minutes have decreased by 10 full minutes during his Auburn career, also. He averaged 21.9 minutes per game during the 2022-23 campaign, which was a six-minute decrease from the season prior. Last season, he averaged 17.1 minutes per contest.

Johnson’s Auburn career ends with 9.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game in 102 total games over three seasons. Pearl also mentions thatJohnson plans to earn an Auburn degree in the future.

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Auburn guard K.D. Johnson hitting the portal

Just days after Auburn’s first round exit to Yale, Auburn guard KD Johnson has announced that he is entering the transfer portal.

It was just a few days ago that Auburn basketball’s season ended in the NCAA Tournament at the hands of the Yale Bulldogs. As if the feeling was not already bad enough, some more bad news has hit the Tigers’ program.

Auburn guard [autotag]K.D. Johnson[/autotag] announced he is entering the transfer portal on Tuesday, marking the first member of this year’s team to leave the squad.

Johnson spent the past three years playing for [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] after transferring to the Tigers from Georgia. He played key minutes off of the bench this season in Pearl’s 10-man rotation, which proved to be a vital part of the team’s success.

While being the second rotation with the team for the last two seasons, he started all but three games that he played in during the 2021-22 year.

Over the course of his Auburn career, Johnson racked up 959 points, 224 rebounds and 142 assists. He was a 38.2% shooter from the field to go along with his 72.5% success rate from the charity stripe.

In his final game with the program versus Yale, he played a season-high 26 minutes, scoring seven points to go along with two rebounds and one assist. Johnson has not announced what his future plans are for his college career, but it is known that he played a crucial role in the Tigers’ recent success.

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