Auburn Tigers head coach Steven Pearl did the heaviest lifting of the offseason, returning Tahaad Pettiford to the backcourt on Saturday just days after getting Kevin Overton back for a second season on the Plains. Now, Pearl and GM Brian Kloman must add frontcourt pieces around Sebastian Williams-Adams, who announced his return earlier this week as well.
Per AL.com's Jerry Humphrey III, "So, what’s next for Auburn? First, the Tigers will have to replace players like Filip Jovic, Elyjah Freeman, Kaden Magwood and Abdul Bashir, all of whom entered their names in the portal. With Auburn already set to host several transfer portal guards next week on campus, adding frontcourt players will be at the top of the list for coach Steven Pearl and general manager Brian Kloman over the next two weeks."
The Tigers have signed seven-foot French center Narcisse Ngoy thus far, but have plenty of work to do. Ngoy may not be a big minutes-getter off the bat, anyway. Auburn is also courting San Jose State Spartans transfer guard Colby Garland, but he's also talking with the Oregon Ducks.
Regardless of what happens next, Pearl has already put AU in an unbelievable place.
Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton's returns retain Auburn's identity
Having the Tigers' two backcourt pillars back, two undersized guards who can get hot quickly, gives Auburn its identity. Bruce Pearl's teams have always thrived with small guards who are dynamic with the ball in their hands. The apple doesn't appear to have fallen too far from the tree, given the Tigers' NIT victory and how it happened.
With Pettiford back, in particular, this team knows how it will win games next season. After he struggled to find his footing during his sophomore season, Pettiford's continued presence could be a calming one in Auburn's quest to regain national credibility and relevance this winter.
Pearl has had one hell of an offseason, his first in charge after taking over last September in abrupt fashion.