College basketball fans are still buzzing over the news of Auburn head men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl’s sudden retirement. After the news broke, concerns that some players would leave the program via the transfer portal, as some of the players came to Auburn to play for Bruce Pearl. However, newly named head coach Steven Pearl delivered good news on Wednesday.
While speaking to the media, Steven Pearl said, “Both Tahaad Pettiford and Keyshawn Hall told the team today that they were planning on coming back and being at Auburn this year, not entering the transfer portal.” Later in the day, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports shared that the remainder of the roster, which includes transfers Keshawn Murphy, Kevin Overton, and JUCO star Abdul Bashir, will also remain with the team.
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“All the guys we had here this summer are going to be putting on Auburn jerseys this season,” Pearl said, confirming the report.
For Auburn, having Pettiford back will be a key part of any success the Tigers have this season. He went through the NBA Draft Combine after the season to gauge his draft stock. He returns as the only player coming back from the 2024-25 team that reached the 2025 Final Four. Last season, he averaged 11.6 points per game and shot 37% from beyond the three-point line.
Hall is another player the Tigers will be relying on this season. He transferred from UCF after the season, where he played very well. Last season with the Golden Knights, he averaged 18.8 points per game and 6.6 rebounds. He is a very versatile player who can play any of the five positions on the court.
Auburn is also welcoming in other top transfers, including guard Kevin Overton (Texas Tech) and forward Keyshawn Murphy (Mississippi State), to name a few. They also bring in Filip Jovic from Serbia, who many are excited about. Auburn just concluded its first week of practice and will play Oklahoma State on Oct. 15 in an exhibition contest. The regular season will begin on Nov. 3 when they host Bethune-Cookman.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn basketball to stay intact following Bruce Pearl’s retirement
