In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, a dominant hoops victory over LSU headlines the good vibes along with a football coaching staff return.
It's been a less-than-stellar Auburn Tigers news week, with the departures of lauded long-time football staffers Cadillac Williams and Zac Etheridge, but the weekend vibes did a complete 180 from the sad week that was.
Bruce Pearl's Tigers picked up a big win in SEC play at the Neville Arena and a position coach who appeared set on joining Mike Elko's Texas A&M staff changed course and returned to the Plains instead.
Let's dig in.
Bruce Pearl's Auburn Tigers temporarily let foot off gas, still cover in style against LSU at home
The usual suspects, Aden Holloway (13 points) and Johni Broome (18), two of AU's top three scorers, delivered double-digit efforts on 13 and 12 shots, respectively, while Chad Baker-Mazara put forth an efficient (5/10, 3/4 3-PT, 6/6 FT) game-high 19-point performance in a spread-covering 93-78 victory over LSU on January 13.
While both Tigers teams scorched nets at a 39+% clip, AU's 16 steals sealed the deal in a one-sided turnover battle (LSU had 17, Auburn 8) that Bruce Pearl's squad had in hand in the first half before giving some ground back up in the second half; but ultimately shutting the door emphatically.
Pearl's Tigers are now 3-0 in SEC play with three double-digit wins over LSU, Texas A&M, and Arkansas. Vanderbilt is next on January 17 in Nashville.
Wesley McGriff returns to Hugh Freeze's staff after Ron Roberts leaves for Florida
"Coach Crime Dawg," FKA Wesley McGriff, returned to Hugh Freeze's staff after Ron Roberts took a job with Billy Napier's Gators, per AL.com's Ainslie Lee.
"Come the conclusion of Auburn’s season, with Roberts still on staff, McGriff entertained other options and ultimately landed on Elko’s staff in College Station," Lee prefaced before saying, "
However, with Roberts now out, it appears McGriff is back in."
McGriff returns for what will be a continuation of his third stint coaching the Tigers. He previously worked for Gus Malzahn in 2016, then again in 2019 and 2020.