This year, the Southeastern Conference was arguably the best it has ever been in basketball, and conference play was a gauntlet for Auburn basketball and the other teams this year. Even after playing one of the most challenging non-conference schedules in program history, Auburn basketball won the regular-season title and maintained the best record in the conference.
Time and again, different Auburn basketball players stepped up to help the Tigers pick up big wins on the road, and the depth on the roster is a big reason why the team has been so successful this year.
Earlier this week, the conference announced All-SEC Honors. Head coach Bruce Pearl was named SEC Coach of the Year, and Johni Broome was named SEC Player of the Year. He becomes the third player in Auburn basketball history to win the award after Charles Barkley (1984) and Chris Porter (1999). Four players were also named to various All-SEC teams.
Broome was, of course, named to the All-SEC First Team for the second year in a row after averaging 18.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists this season. He will head into the postseason campaigning to become National Player of the Year over Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg.
Chad Baker-Mazara was named to the All-SEC Third Team. He averaged 12.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Baker-Mazara's scoring was a big factor in many of Auburn's wins this season, and he shot 46.9 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from behind the three-point line.
Denver Jones, who started for the Tigers in all but one game this season due to injury, was named to the All-SEC Defensive Team. Pearl has raved about Jones's defense and how important it has been to his team's success all year, so it's a well-deserved honor for the point guard.
And finally, Tahaad Pettiford was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. He averaged 11.2 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists coming off the bench for Auburn basketball and was lauded as one of the most impactful sixth men of the season.
The Tigers return to action this Friday in the SEC Tournament.