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Bruce Pearl, Johni Broome reflect on physical start to SEC play: ‘It’s what makes basketball fun’

Auburn men’s basketball got a taste of everything Southeastern Conference basketball has to offer on Saturday.

There were points, a flagrant foul, a technical foul, trash talk and every kind of stoppage you can think of during Auburn’s 84-68 win over Missouri.

It was both teams’ SEC opener, a league known just as much for its physicality as its talent. Auburn and Missouri combined for 41 total fouls and there was no shortage of trash talk and aggressive play.

If anyone benefited from that physicality, it was Auburn center Johni Broome, scoring 24 points and being a handful on the block for Missouri throughout the game. He shot eight of Auburn’s 24 total free throws while also picking up four fouls himself.

The physical play in the paint almost boiled over at times, with Missouri’s Josh Gray getting called for a flagrant foul after elbowing Dylan Cardwell and Tahaad Pettiford getting assessed a technical foul for taunting.

“It’s part of basketball,“ Broome said after the game. “That’s what makes basketball fun. Once we get off the court, there’s no hard feelings. Going on the court, you’ve got to have a little bit of an edge, a little dog to you. That’s all it is.”

The physicality did cause some bumps and bruises for Auburn over the course of the game, though, as both Cardwell and Pettiford were slow to get up on separate plays.

Bruce Pearl noted the day before the game that the physicality of conference play could cause more injuries, meaning depth will be more important than ever. For Auburn, that wasn’t a problem against Missouri, especially in the frontcourt as Chaney Johnson had another double-digit performance off the bench, scoring 13 points and grabbing seven rebounds.

“His impact on our team is crucial,” Broome said of Johnson. “He comes in and just plays his butt off. He makes the highlight plays, he makes the little plays, he blocks shots, he defends, guards. To have a guy like that on our team is the reason why we’re one of the best in the country.”

Depth becomes even more important now as Auburn has a quick turnaround before its next game against Texas on Tuesday, its first road game of SEC play.

“Now, it’s tonight, it’s tomorrow. We travel on Monday to go to Austin, Texas,” Pearl said. “It’s a shorter prep, and we’ll get ourselves ready to go.”

Auburn’s matchup with the Longhorns Tuesday night is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. and will be streaming live on ESPN2.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m

General

Deontae Lawson reveals plans for 2025 Alabama football season

Alabama football will have one of its captains back after all.

Deontae Lawson, a Mobile native, announced Saturday he will stay for another season with the Crimson Tide. 2025 will be his fifth season with the program.

“This program and the staff have been like a second family to me,” Lawson posted to Instagram. “The opportunity I have been given to play for Coach Saban and Coach DeBoer is a blessing. I want to finish what I started from the day I stepped foot on campus, and that includes winning a national championship.”

Lawson spent 2024 as a team captain but sustained a season-ending injury against Oklahoma. Until his injury, he was the player wearing the green dot helmet, which is connected to defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s headset.

Lawson tallied 76 tackles, four pass breakups, two sacks, one forced fumble and one interception.

“While I will always have love for Mobile, Tuscaloosa has become a second home and I’m not ready to leave,” Lawson wrote. “I will do everything in my power to help the 2025 group live up to the Bama Standard, and I look forward to leading this team next season.”

Lawson will be the only returning captain. Quarterback Jalen Milroe, left guard Tyler Booker and safety Malachi Moore all won’t be back. Milroe and Booker declared for the NFL Draft and Moore saw his eligibility expire.

“I want to thank God for putting me in the position I am today,” Lawson wrote. “Without Him, none of my successes would be possible. His timing is perfect, and I trust that He knows what is best for me.”

Lawson joins Justin Jefferson, Tim Keenan III and LT Overton as defensive players with remaining eligibility who have announced they will stay for another season.

“I have not had the easiest road to get where I am, but I would not have been able to make it this far without my family,” Lawson wrote. “They have been my #1 support system each and every day, and I am truly blessed to have them to keep me pushing forward through all the ups and downs along this journey. They have consistently told me they love me and believe in me, no matter what decision I make.”

Jihaad Campbell, who started alongside Lawson on the inside of the defense, won’t be back in 2025 as he declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. So Alabama has one opening on the inside. Justin Jefferson announced he will stay for one more season, made possible by a court ruling after Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia filed a lawsuit to get one more year of eligibility as a former junior college player. Alabama also added Colorado linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green from the transfer portal.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

General

‘It’s evil’: Father mourns UA freshman killed in New Orleans attack

Kareem Badawi was a young man living his dreams as a freshman at the University of Alabama.

But his life was tragically cut short by the New Year’s Day terrorist attack that killed the 18-year-old and 14 others, including the perpetrator.

“It’s evil,” said his father Belal Badawi. “Nobody can justify killing innocent people. What’s in your mind just to kill people? They were just celebrating the new year. I can’t believe how evil people are.”

Kareem Badawi was one of two people with Alabama ties killed in the attack. Drew Dauphin, an Auburn University graduate from Montgomery, was also killed.

Kareem had just finished his first semester at UA where he was a member of Sigma Chi.

He grew up in Baton Rouge and was in New Orleans to reunite with friends from high school. They planned to celebrate the holiday together at the Sugar Bowl.

Belal Badawi told AL.com that his son and friend Parker Vidrine decided about 2:45 a.m. to go back out into the French quarter as there were still a lot of revelers out on the streets.

Roughly 30 minutes later, police say, former Army soldier Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who posted videos on his Facebook hours before the attack previewing the violence he would unleash and proclaiming his support for the Islamic State militant group, carried out the attack.

Fourteen people were killed and dozens injured, including Kareem’s friend Vidrine who was hospitalized with critical injuries.

Belal Badawi said he learned of the attack when he woke up about 6 a.m. and looked at his phone.

“I said, ‘Oh my God,’ there’s something going on in New Orleans,’ so I went to searching,” he told AL.com. “Then it came over the TV.”

Belal Badawi said he immediately tried to reach his son.

“I kept calling him and he didn’t answer,” he said. “I called his brother, who was down there too, but they weren’t together.”

Belal Badawi’s other son returned his call about 7 a.m. and said he, too, had been trying to call Kareem.

Belal Badawi said they began to worry even more when they found out that Kareem’s phone was located in the area where the attack happened.

About 9 a.m., Vidrine’s mother called the Badawi family and told them her son was in critical condition.

“That was when we left for New Orleans,” Belal Badawi said. “We needed to be close.”

The family went to the hospital to await news of Kareem.

“We waited like four hours,” Belal said, “and they came to us with the news.”

Kareem’s high school held a large prayer service Thursday night, and Kareem’s funeral was held Friday.

“Kareem was a good kid, a sweet kid, a smart kid,’’ his father said. “He like people.”

Kareem grew up playing sports, basketball, baseball and football.

The teen planned on becoming a mechanical engineer, so he kept that in mind when he began to look at colleges.

Both his brother and sister attend LSU.

“He found out Alabama was good, so he asked me,” his father recalled.

“He loved life, and he said, ‘Dad, I need to see something different.’”

His first semester didn’t disappoint.

“He was so in love with Alabama,” Belal Badawi said. “He kept texting me and telling me he was so glad about his decision. He said, ‘My dream came true.’”

“Kareem was just a lovely boy and just loved people,” his father said. “We’ll miss him forever.”

General

Alabama football loses starting tackle to transfer portal: Report

Alabama football will be without one of its starting tackles for the 2025 season. Elijah Pritchett will enter the transfer portal after four seasons in Tuscaloosa, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.

Pritchett played in all 13 games for the Crimson Tide in 2024. He earned a starting role at right tackle in preseason camp, after JC Latham left Alabama for the NFL.

According to Pro Football Focus, Pritchett allowed 31 pressures for Alabama in 2024. That put him in the team lead, well ahead of second place Kadyn Proctor, who allowed 13.

Saturday’s Alabama departure is the second time Pritchett has entered the transfer portal. He entered after the 2023 season, but opted to return to Alabama.

The Crimson Tide will have Proctor back last season, barring any move on his part. With Pritchett’s departure, Wilkin Formby will likely see an increased role for UA.

Alabama also added a tackle through the transfer portal on Saturday. Former Ball State offensive lineman Arkel Anugwom announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide.

Jackson Lloyd will be UA’s fourth scholarship tackle as things currently stand.

The 6-foot-6, 327-pound Pritchett joined Alabama in the 2022 recruiting class. He was a four-star prospect out of Georgia.

His Alabama tenure also included some legal trouble. Pritchett was arrested in December of 2023 for knowingly transmitting a sexually-transmitted disease, and again in April, for exhibition of speed, both misdemeanors.

Alabama players received a five-day window to enter the transfer portal following the end of the 2024 season. The campaign came to an end Tuesday, when UA lost the ReliaQuest Bowl to Michigan.

General

Detroit Lions’ Brian Branch takes the lead for NFL’s most-fined player in 2024

For the seventh time this season, the NFL has fined Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch $10,128.

This time, the former Alabama defensive back was docked for unnecessary roughness (use of helmet), in the NFL’s judgment. The league cited a tackle by Branch on San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle in Detroit’s 40-34 victory on Monday night, even though no penalty was called on the play.

The fine put Branch back in sole possession of the title of the most-fined player in the NFL. Philadelphia Eagles safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson has been fined six times.

The NFL announced its fines for Week 17 on Saturday.

Three other players from Alabama high schools and colleges were among the 35 fined by the NFL for Week 17 transgressions.

Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (Alabama) was fined $11,817 for unnecessary roughness (striking/kicking/kneeing). Arnold was not penalized during the game for the play cited by the NFL for the fine.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (Hoover) was fined $10,231 for unsportsmanlike conduct (removal of the helmet). Pickens was penalized on the play in a 29-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 25, but the penalty was for a false start. With his fifth fine of 2024, Pickens ranks third in the NFL this season.

Carolina Panthers defensive end A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama) was fined $16,883 for roughing the passer (contact in the knee area or below) during a 48-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Robinson was penalized for that infraction on the field.

The NFL uses a collectively bargained schedule of fines to determine the amount of monetary punishment. The NFL’s fine schedule also comes with a list of aggravating and mitigating factors that can affect the size of a fine.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

General

3 takeaways from Auburn basketball’s first conference game vs. Missouri

When two tigers meet in the wild only one can stand alone as the king of the jungle.

Auburn basketball protected home court securing its first SEC victory of the season defeating the Missouri Tigers 84-68.

Now sitting at 13-1 overall, the Tigers will travel to Texas and South Carolina before returning back to Neville Arena to host Mississippi State Jan. 14.

Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s victory over Missouri:

Balanced first half from Auburn

Auburn held a 12-point lead at halftime as five Tigers had more than five points at the break. Johni Broome led the half with 13 points as the team shot 58% from the floor to start.

Seven different players hit 3-pointers for Auburn in the first half. Missouri shot 20% from 3-point territory only draining two to start the game.

The Tigers also scored 14 points off of seven Missouri turnovers helping extend its lead to double digits before halftime.

Missouri wins in the trenches, still not enough

Even with the shooting struggles from Missouri, the black and gold Tigers dominated the glass against Auburn leading the game in the rebound category.

Missouri shot 38% from the floor halting any possible comeback in the second half. As a team, Missouri finished the game with only seven made 3-pointers.

Big players shining in big games

Captains Broome and Chad Baker-Mazara were the team’s leading scorers combining for 37 points. In the first half, Mazara connected on his third 4-point play in the Tigers last two games.

Denver Jones hot shooting streak continues finishing the game with 10 points shooting 50% from 3-point range.

Tahaad Pettiford added 10 points to his final stats as Auburn ended the game with 29 total points from its bench.

Auburn’s next game will be Tuesday at Texas and tipoff is set for 8 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN 2.

General

Rickey Smiley says ‘the sun came back out’ when he learned he fathered 5-year-old twin girls

Rickey Smiley, the comedian, radio host and Birmingham native, has announced that he has 5-year-old twin daughters.

Smiley, 56, has known the girls their whole lives but said he only recently learned that he is their father, according to news reports.

“When I tell you that’s the first time I saw the sun again,” Smiley said in an interview on the Smitty and Dee Show podcast, “during that dark hour, the sun came back out.”

In 2023, Smiley’s 32-year-old son, Brandon, died from a drug overdose.

Smiley spoke of his religious faith and how it helped him through the death of his son. He said it took a full year for the news of his son’s death to sink in. It was around that time that he heard of his paternity of the girls.

“Right before the one-year anniversary of my son’s death,” Smiley said in the interview on the Smitty and Dee Show, “I found out I have a 5-year-old, identical twin beautiful daughters.”

Smiley said that he received a phone call from an ex-girlfriend, now a friend, who found out through court proceedings that they were Smiley’s daughters and not another man’s.

The girls had been a regular presence at his grandson’s birthday parties, he said.

“On their fifth birthday, I went into their house as their father,” he said.

He brought flowers and balloons, he said, and sent cake. He redecorated a room and restored the sandbox and trampoline at his house.

Smiley is known as a comedian, radio personality, actor and TV host.

General

Auburn special teams coordinator to take on added role in secondary, report says

Auburn special teams coordinator Tanner Burns will coach nickels in addition to his special teams duties at Auburn, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.

Burns joined Auburn’s staff prior to the 2023 season, spending the last two seasons as special teams coordinator. Prior to his time at Auburn, Burns coached special teams and outside linebackers at Liberty.

Auburn’s special teams had an up and down season in 2024, making just 12 of 22 field goals and struggling with penalties on kick and punt returns. However, the unit only gave up 3.1 yards per punt return, improving in coverage from the 2023 season.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m

General

South Alabama basketball pummels Georgia Southern, 76-47, in 3rd straight Sun Belt rout

South Alabama continued its early dominance of Sun Belt Conference play with a 76-47 victory at Georgia Southern on Saturday.

The Jaguars improve to 11-4 overall, 3-0 in the Sun Belt. South Alabama has won its first three Sun Belt games by 28, 26 and 29 points, and swept its two-game trip to Georgia State and Georgia Southern for the first time since the Eagles joined the conference 10 years ago.

On Saturday, South Alabama burst out to leads of 12-0 and 26-3 as the Eagles (8-7, 1-2) missed their first 11 shots and turned the ball over 11 times in the first half. The Jaguars led 38-18 at halftime and by as many as 34 in the final five minutes of the game.

South Alabama got a balanced offensive effort, with John Broom, Myles Corey and Judah Brown all tying for the team lead with 11 points and Barry Dunning chipping in 10. Broom had a solid all-around game, adding seven rebounds, four steals and a blocked shot.

Cantia Rahming had eight points and a team-best 11 rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes off the bench for the Jaguars, who were without starting forward Randy Brady, sidelined by a foot injury suffered at Georgia State on Thursday. JJ Wheat scored nine points, while Elijah Ormiston — who started in Brady’s place — had seven points and five rebounds.

South Alabama’s Sun Belt-best defense locked up Georgia Southern all night, forcing 22 turnovers and collecting 13 steals. The Eagles came into the game 6-0 at home and leading the conference in scoring at 75.5 points per game, but shot just 33.3% from the field, 25.8% from 3-point range and 46.7% from the free-throw line on Saturday.

Braylhan Thomas was the only Georgia Southern player in double-figures scoring with 11 points. Bradley Douglas, who scored 30 points in a win over Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday, had only four in 31 minutes on Saturday.

South Alabama is 3-0 in Sun Belt play for the first time since 2012-13, when it finished 14-6 in the conference and played in the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament at season’s end. The Jaguars’ best league finish in six seasons under coach Richie Riley is 13-7 in 2020.

South Alabama is home for its next four games, including a battle with preseason Sun Belt favorite Arkansas State at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Red Wolves were 11-3 overall and 2-0 in the conference heading into Saturday’s game at James Madison.

General

Alabama linebacker entering transfer portal, per reports

Alabama football linebacker Sterling Dixon will enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports.

Dixon is a former four-star prospect from Spanish Fort.

Dixon saw time in three games: Western Kentucky, Missouri and Mercer. Dixon was used on special teams and on defense. Dixon had one tackle in 2024.

Dixon is listed at 6-3, 211 pounds. The 247Sports Composite listed him as the No. 202 overall player and No. 18 edge rusher in the 2024 recruiting class.

Dixon joined tight end Ty Lockwood as Crimson Tide players entering the transfer portal Sunday.

An additional portal window of five days opened after Alabama played in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday. The final day for Crimson Tide players to enter the transfer portal in this cycle is Sunday. Players just have to be in the transfer portal by the deadline to transfer. They can take time to make the decision

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.