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Goodman: The apex of Auburn greatness is here with wings and fangs and claws

This is an opinion column.

_____________________

It was like Neville Arena and Jordan-Hare Stadium had a baby.

Clumsy in the beginning.

A little funny looking, too.

But, in the end, a majestic soaring, roaring eagle with fangs and claws like a tiger.

They’ll always remember the crowd from Auburn 78, Michigan 65 at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. It was a dream. It was a declaration. It was beautiful and felt like the cultural apex of Auburn’s potential as a regional and national power. The basketball? Let’s be honest. At this point in Auburn’s all-time season, we’ve seen better.

But this is the NCAA Tournament and style points are for people who don’t understand March Madness.

Win and grin.

Survive.

Nothing else matters.

No.1 overall seed Auburn is through the Sweet 16 and on to an Elite 8 matchup with No.2 seed Michigan State.

Sparty coach Tom Izzo is a gangster of a basketball legend, and he showcased his street smarts against upstart Ole Miss in Friday’s first game, but he’s no Bruce Pearl in Atlanta.

Bruce Almighty owns Atlanta in a way that only Nick Saban could fully understand — steal Georgia Tech’s best players and then walk around town like the mayor.

“Bruuuuuuce” echoed through the building before the game and then after it was over, too.

It was the best crowd for a game in the NCAA Tournament I’ve ever witnessed — even better than Butler vs. Duke in Indianapolis. Saturday’s game in the Elite 8 will be a slice of Auburn heaven and Pat Dye will hear it from above.

Auburn earned this advantage, too. The crowd this weekend in Atlanta is why Auburn worked so hard to win the SEC; to dominate every night the toughest conference in the history of college basketball.

It was all for this, and the fans understood the assignment.

War Eagle, they chanted.

Weagle Weagle, they screamed.

Have the hometown Atlanta Hawks ever seen a crowd like that in the history of their franchise?

Nah.

Auburn is different and the fans are proud.

Michigan kept it close in the first half, but the Wolverines had no chance. This one was preordained and scripted. Auburn snapped off a 20-2 run behind its home-crowd advantage and that was that.

“It was just the kids’ will to win,” Pearl said. “They locked down defensively.”

On the offensive end, it was a duo of Denver Jones and Tahaad Pettiford that did it. First it was Jones, who went to work with a 10-0 skirmish all his own. Then it was Pettiford’s turn, and the freshman put on a show.

The kid is special, and he knows it, too.

Pettiford became an Auburn legend on this night. He finished with 20 points, and his 15 in the second half put the game away.

Those of us paying attention saw it coming.

“He does whatever it takes to win,” Auburn senior Johni Broome said. “If we need a spark, he gives us a spark. He also does a good job of listening to us.”

Because he’s a freshman.

Because, like Pearl said after the game, sometimes Pettiford needs constructive encouragement.

Because “he’s a little [sh*t], you now,” Pearl said.

Pearl was kidding. He loves Pettiford, and recruited him from a very young age.

Auburn’s coach is trying to keep Pettiford grounded. Good luck, coach. He was born to fly.

Pettiford came out early from the halftime locker room and locked in his 3-point shot. Then, before the second half, Pearl motioned to his freshman to take over the game. That’s all Pettiford needed to see.

He channeled the Auburn spirit. He fed off the Auburn energy. The arena boomed with every bucket.

The Sweet 16 was a reflection of Auburn greatness, and the Elite 8 will be like the coronation of a king.

Pearl built this from nothing. He imagined this weekend years ago. This is his time and this is his town and this is his best team.

One more win and Auburn is through to the Final Four. It’s so close. The fangs are sharp and the claws are ready.

BE HEARD

Got a question for Joe? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe an email about what’s on your mind. Let your voice be heard. Ask him anything.

Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the book “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”

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General

Inside the 20-2 run that led Auburn basketball to a comeback win in the Sweet 16

With 12:26 to play in Auburn’s Sweet 16 game against Michigan, things looked bleak.

The Wolverines had just converted two free throws to take a nine-point lead, and it started to seem like a historic season was wilting away in front of a majority Auburn crowd inside State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Michigan was on an 11-2 run, and an extended spree of turnovers, missed shots and good Michigan offense had Auburn in a hole. Will Tschetter capped off the run with his points at the line and the crowd went quiet.

Then, Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn’s fearless five-star freshman did what he often does, step up in the Tigers’ biggest games.

Pettiford knocked down a 3-pointer on Auburn’s next possession, cutting the deficit to six and starting a 20-2 run that flipped the game on its head.

“Definitely,” Pettiford said when asked postgame if his 3-pointer to start the run felt big. “I felt the momentum shift our way and seeing the guys bring more energy that we didn’t have earlier in the game, and felt like that, that’s what started it.”

Pettiford finished the game with 20 points, 15 of which came in the second half. He also had three assists and no turnovers in the final 20 minutes after going into halftime with three turnovers and no assists.

He knocked down two big 3s during Auburn’s second-half surge, but his and-1 on a mid-range shot with 4:35 to go in the game seemed like an early dagger.

The sequence put Auburn up by 13 points and Michigan never made another real push to put itself back in the game.

“He does whatever it takes to win. We need a spark, he gives the spark,” said Auburn star forward Johni Broome. “There’s not too many freshmen who can take over a game like he can. You saw in today’s game he had a spurt where he just took over the game.”

It wasn’t just Pettiford either. Starting point guard Denver Jones also finished with 20 points, and 13 came in the second half.

He knocked down a 3-pointer on the possession after Pettiford’s to start the run and later went on a personal 8-0 run to extend Auburn’s lead from one to nine with 7:27 left in the game. That mini run was highlighted by Jones hitting back-to-back 3s, a moment that put the pro-Auburn crowd into a frenzy.

“I’m never going to forget that one,” Jones said. “The second one… That’s the spark that really got me going. I was excited. I just feel like I could shoot anything.”

The run was an embodiment of a quality head coach Bruce Pearl said the team needed going into the postseason: Step up.

It wasn’t just one player doing so against Michigan either. Jones and Pettiford stood out, but it was team effort that helped Auburn overcome a poor team performance to start the second half.

As much as Auburn’s backcourt started lighting it up from the field, the Tigers also locked in defensively. Michigan star center, Danny Wolf, didn’t score in the final 13 minutes of the game as Auburn held the Wolverines to 35.7% from the field and forced seven turnovers in the second half.

“We knew they would turn the ball a lot, but we obviously turned the ball over a lot as well,” said Auburn center Dylan Cardwell. “It was just a change in our defensive intensity. Like I said, we just wanted it more.”

In other words, Auburn stepped up. Now, it has a chance to reach the Final Four for just the second time in program history when it plays Michigan State on Sunday.

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

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General

‘We’re the best frontcourt in the country’: How Auburn basketball shutdown Vladislav Goldin

Michigan’s post duo of Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf were the foundation of the Wolverines offense.

In Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup against Auburn basketball, the Tigers frontcourt accepted the challenge by outrebounding the Wolverines and holding Goldin to just 10 points.

“I thought Dylan Cardwell did an incredible job on Goldin. I thought Johni, Dylan, Chaney were physical with those guys and didn’t let them dominate the game with their size, which they do against most opponents,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said postgame.

Goldin shot 2-of-9 from the floor, scoring well below his season average of 16.8 points per game.

“I mean, they played physical defense. The shots didn’t fall in. Sometimes it happens,” Goldin said postgame. “It feels even worse that it happened in this kind of game, but it is what it is.”

The Tigers outrebounded Michigan 48-33, grabbing 19 offensive rebounds. Johni Broome led the way with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Dylan Cardwell added nine rebounds to his four points.

Broome credited the rebounding as a key factor in Friday’s victory as the Tigers shot 35.6% from the floor and 29.4% from beyond the arc.

“Just taking pride in owning the glass and crashing the glass, giving us extra opportunities. We missed a lot of shots,” Broome said.

“We have the best frontline in the country. Credit to all my front-line members, Ja’Heim Hudson, Chaney Johnson, Dylan Cardwell, obviously myself. We take pride in each matchup that we go against and we’re going to bring it every night.”

Wolf was Michigan’s leading scorer with 20 points, shooting 9-of-18 from the floor. However, he scored his final basket of the night at the 13:06 mark in the second half.

“Coming into this game, we knew we worry about matchups, we care about matchups. We treat this game personal,” Broome added. “That’s a great front line, but we wanted to challenge ourselves and see — to make it tough for him and Vlad Goldin.”

For Cardwell, he viewed this matchup as two of the best centers in their respective conferences battling for basketball supremacy.

“Be physical. Don’t allow him to get easy post touches. He’s one of the best scorers in the country, especially in the Big Ten — definitely the best player in the Big Ten, in my personal opinion,” Cardwell said.

“I showed him what that SEC strength is. I take pride in representing that SEC patch. I don’t take it for granted. There’s not a day when I take it for granted. Trying to drop down, anchor down and be more physical.”

Auburn advances to the Elite 8 round Sunday and will face Michigan State for a spot in the Final Four.

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected].

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General

Today’s daily horoscopes: March 29, 2025

Mercury chases Venus into Pisces and conjoins with Neptune on this day of the new moon and solar eclipse. Inspiration flows like a tide, pulling hearts toward poetry, music and the kind of beauty that makes you weep. Every song is a love song, every brushstroke a confession. Love and art intertwine, each feeding the other.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your confidence will be the catalyst for change. It’s not in what you talk about; rather it’s a quiet power — more of a vibe you radiate. You’re so secure in what you know and who you are that people naturally defer to your judgment.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Observation will be as important as action. Patience will prove more of an ally than speed. With eyes open and ears perked to subtlety and subtext, you’ll learn useful things that will serve you well when it’s time to make a move.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). So much that the world asks you to do is neither productive nor necessary. Resist the pull to hustle. Instead, step back and question the value of it all. Prioritize your peace over perceived productivity, and you’ll find clarity and energy for what truly matters.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). What if you just did the bare minimum? There’s nothing to gain from filling all of your time. So much that the world asks you to do will be neither productive nor necessary.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You connect in an easy, breezy, natural way with all kinds of people today. Because of this, you’ll often find yourself as the link that brings unlikely individuals together — people who might never find common ground without you there to bridge the gap.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Today is for pouring the foundation of the structures you’ll build tomorrow and live in next month. It’s creating trust by showing up regularly for a friend. It’s delivering a reliable result on the job.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The external world is aligning with your internal standards — what once required effort now feels natural. You’re surrounded by people who generally understand and respect your limits, reducing the need for constant reinforcement.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll have deep insights. They are not always full of confidence, but they are always helpful, as even self-doubt can push you to refine your skills until they shine. Weakness transforms into strength the moment you learn to work with it instead of against it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re the gate, the gatekeeper and all that’s behind the gate, too. You’ll feel on a visceral level that your time and energy are valuable and should be kept inaccessible to some while you focus yourself on your top priorities.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Someone out there is wondering how they can be a better friend to you. Model the behavior you’d most love to receive from others. First you’ll give yourself what you need; then others will follow suit.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Should you set aside your agenda to advance another person’s goals? You get the sense there’s a compelling reason to do so even if you can’t quite put your finger on what it is. This is an opportunity to build goodwill and learn something new in the process.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). In some moments, there’s nothing to do except rest. There’s nothing to figure out, nothing to push toward a goal… just let yourself be for a little while — nothing to perform, just be a person who’s allowed to exist, just as you are.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (MARCH 29). This year is a rhythmic dance, sometimes fast and exhilarating, other times slow and steady, but always in perfect time with magic and music. Your magnetism is constant and undeniable, attracting allies, mentors and admirers alike. More highlights: A financial win you can reinvest, a deep healing experience, and a challenge that transforms you physically and spiritually, too. Scorpio and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 21, 30, 8, and 16.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Comedic genius Amy Sedaris will voice several upcoming animated projects reviving beloved animations from “Smurfs” to “Flintstones” and even a “Ren and Stimpy Show” reboot. This searing Aries talent has an unusually diverse astrological chart, which may explain her ability and desire to play a wide range of characters, some within the same show as she plays several roles in the dadaist masterpiece “At Home with Amy Sedaris.”

Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

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General

Game time for Auburn vs Michigan State in Elite Eight of March Madness announced

No. 1 seed Auburn men’s basketball will face No. 2 seed Michigan State in the Elite Eight at 4:05 p.m. CT on Sunday in Atlanta, CBS announced for the upcoming March Madness slate.

The game will be broadcast on CBS. Ian Eagle, Grant Hill, Bill Raftery and Tracy Wolfson will be on the call again.

The Tigers beat No. 5 seed Michigan 78-65 on Friday night to reach the Elite Eight. Earlier in the night, Michigan State beat No. 6 Ole Miss 73-70 in the other South Regional Sweet 16 game.

Auburn is in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019, when it advanced to the Final Four for the only time in program history. The Tigers also made the Elite Eight in 1986.

Michigan State is in the Elite Eight for the 15th time, but also the first time since 2019. The Spartans have made 10 trips to the Final Four (most recently in 2019) and won the national championship in 1979 and 2000.

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General

3 takeaways from Auburn basketball’s Sweet 16 win over Michigan

For the first 28 minutes of Auburn men’s basketball’s Sweet 16 game against Michigan, the display was anything but efficient or pretty.

But with the season on the line, Auburn proved why it’s the No. 1 overall seed. The Tigers won the game 78-65 and now move on to the Elite Eight to face Michigan State Sunday afternoon.

Friday’s game started with an extended flurry of turnovers, missed shots and overall sloppy play, but ended with Auburn yet again surviving and advancing.

Here are three takeaways from Auburn’s Sweet 16 win:

Sloppy from the start

The turnover bug hit both teams early on in the game, making for a sloppy start to the contest.

Auburn and Michigan combined for 18 turnovers in the first half, with many of them being live ball turnovers. It created a frantic pace for parts of the opening 20 minutes, something the Wolverines are a little more accustomed to.

Turnovers haven’t been much of an issue for Auburn this season. The Tigers came into the game with the fifth-lowest turnover percentage in the country, per KenPom. Auburn had 10 in the first half against Michigan, two more than the Wolverines.

Michigan came into the game with more of a turnover problem, ranking 324th in turnover percentage out of 364 Division I teams.

Auburn cleaned it up in the second half, at least enough to pull away. The turnover battle finished pretty even, but Auburn claimed a 10-point edge in points off turnovers, helping decide the game.

Winning on the glass

Against a lineup as big as Michigan’s, rebounding was both a key and a concern coming into the game for Auburn.

The Tigers have struggled on the glass at times this season against bigger front lines, and many of Auburn’s losses came against teams that were longer and more physical.

Michigan’s starting lineup featured two true centers in Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin, but Auburn held its own on the boards. The Tigers grabbed 19 offensive rebounds and held Michigan to just 10.

The offensive rebounds helped Auburn stay in the game when the offense was both sloppy and inefficient early in the game.

“Step up”

When Auburn lost its regular season finale to Alabama, head coach Bruce Pearl brought up two words that Auburn will need in the postseason: “Step-up.”

In that game, he referenced Alabama forward Grant Nelson stepping up to score 23 points en route to Alabama’s buzzer-beating win in Neville Arena.

When Pearl’s group found itself down by nine with 12:26 to go in the Sweet 16, it needed the step-up Pearl was talking about going into the postseason.

Fortunately for the Tigers, they got, and then some.

Auburn went on a 20-2 run after that moment, spurred by big buckets from Johni Broome, Denver Jones and Tahaad Pettiford. It eventually led to Auburn outscoring Michigan 48-36 in the second half, pulling away with a 13-point victory.

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

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General

Bruce Pearl invites family of American hostage to Auburn’s Sweet 16 game vs. Michigan

Bruce Pearl has been consistently vocal in his support for Israel throughout the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

After Auburn’s NCAA tournament second round win over Creighton, he advocated for the release of Edan Alexander, an American currently held hostage in Gaza.

“To give us an opportunity to start this conference briefly and remind the world that Edan Alexander is still held hostage in Gaza right now,” Pearl said after the win last Saturday. “An American held hostage and not enough people in this country know his name.”

For Auburn’s Sweet 16 game against Michigan, Pearl invited Alexander’s family to the game.

Roy and Adi Alexander were also pictured with Michigan center Danny Wolf, an Israeli American who represented the Israeli national team at the 2023 FIBA Under-20 European Championships.

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

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General

Why was Charles Barkley ‘disturbed and disgusted’ with Auburn’s first half vs. Michigan?

As usual, Auburn basketball legend Charles Barkley didn’t pull any punches when asked about his alma mater’s lackluster first half in its Sweet 16 matchup with Michigan on Friday night in Atlanta.

The top-seeded Tigers led the Wolverines 30-29 at the break, but turned the ball over 10 times. Auburn also shot just 32% from the field and 19% from 3-point range.

“I was disturbed and disgusted by that first half of basketball,” Barkley said during halftime on CBS. “Ten turnovers. I always say the two most important statistics in basketball are rebounds and turnovers. We’ve got to value the basketball. Ten possessions, and at least five of those would have been layups.

“We’ve got the lead, but if we don’t win this game, it’s because of the turnovers we had in the first half. I ain’t gonna lie, we knew this was gonna be a dogfight. But we’ve got to value the basketball, kids. We’ve got to value the basketball.”

It wasn’t all bad for Auburn. SEC Player of the Year Johni Broome had a double-double in the first half with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

However, Broome and freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford had three turnovers each, while guard Chad Baker-Mazara had two (and scored only two points). Barkley reiterated what might have been a very elementary viewpoint, but one that makes a lot of sense.

“The most important thing in basketball is the basketball,” Barkley said. “You have to value the basketball.”

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General

Unrestrained 5-year-old among 2 killed in fiery east Alabama crash; 10-year-old flown to hospital

A young child was among two people killed in a fiery crash Friday afternoon in east Alabama.

Alabama State Troopers identified the adult victim as 55-year-old Micah B. Nash.

Troopers do not identify juvenile victims but said a 5-year-old was also killed.

The wreck happened at 12:40 p.m. on Lookout Street near Sand Rock Avenue, about one mile east of Sandrock in Cherokee County.

Senior Trooper Vu Quang said Nash was driving a Ram 1500 that left the road, hit a culvert and caught fire.

Both Nash and the child were pronounced dead on the scene. Quang said the 5-year-old was unrestrained at the time of the crash.

A 10-year-old passenger was airlifted to an undisclosed hospital.

The investigation is ongoing by troopers.

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General

bet365 bonus code ALBET365 unlocks $150 bonus in Illinois for Friday’s Sweet 16 action

Bettors in both Alabama and Illinois can top off their bankrolls ahead of Friday night’s four games worth of March Madness action by signing up for bet365 bonus code ALBET365.

Simply bet $5 on any March Madness game, and bet365 will add $150 worth of bonus bets to your account once the wager is graded, win or lose. Users looking for a different option can claim a first bet safety net promotion worth up to $1,000 with the same bonus code ALBET365.

Though Illinois is now out of the tournament, users can bet on nearby states such as Michigan while at the same taking advantage of the bonus code ALBET365. Bet365 might be the fastest growing sportsbook in the country over recent months.

Bet365 bonus code ALBET365 at a glance

Bet365 bonus code ALBET365: How to claim the offer

Bet365 allows all new users to choose between two distinct promotions when signing up and claiming their welcome bonus. One user can claim $150 worth of bonus bets using bet365 bonus code ALBET365, while another user can use the same bonus code to claim a first bet safety net worth up to $1,000.

If you want the lower barrier to entry and think you’ll make better use of the $150 worth of free bonus bets, follow these steps:

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If you’d rather opt for the safety net promotion worth up to $1,000, make sure you:

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Bet365 existing user promos

Existing users can also take advantage of daily offers from bet365 and numerous promotions to help improve their luck. New users aren’t the only ones having fun. Here are some of the current existing user promotions available at bet365:

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How to use your bet365 ALBET365 bonus code ALBET365 for Friday’s action

There are four games scheduled to take place on Friday, which means users can make the most out of bet365 bonus code ALBET365 by getting involved in the action. Users don’t need to win their first bet to activate the offer, which makes it a no-brainer to take a plus-money bet such as an underdog on the moneyline. Here are the four games scheduled for Friday night, with moneyline betting odds courtesy of bet365.

• #6 Ole Miss (+150) vs. #2 Michigan State (-180)
• #3 Kentucky (+165) vs. #2 Tennessee (-200)
• #5 Michigan (+325) vs. #1 Auburn (-425)
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