Auburn’s basketball season came to an end Saturday night in San Antonio, Texas, as they fell to SEC rival Florida, 79-73, in the Final Four. The Tigers led by 8 points at halftime, but Florida mounted a second-half comeback to secure the victory.
After the game, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl spoke with the media, discussing the factors behind Florida’s comeback, the impact of Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr., and more.
Opening Remarks
“I want to congratulate Florida on their win and wish them the best in the championship game. I’m incredibly proud of my team. They made history, and this season was a huge accomplishment for Auburn basketball. They’ve given us memories that won’t be forgotten, playing great basketball both on and off the court. In the first half, we executed our game plan well and only turned the ball over twice. But in the second half, Florida’s energy and effort, combined with our lack of depth, caused us to struggle. Fatigue was a factor, and we couldn’t control the game like we did in the first half. If we had taken better care of the ball, we could have been in a better position to win.”
Depth Issues
“We were down to just seven players, and that wasn’t enough. We didn’t get enough support from the bench. Johni did well in the first half, and we relied on him to score. But we didn’t get as many two-point baskets in the second half, and I credit Florida’s defense for stepping up. We struggled with passing, catching, and positioning, which prevented us from executing as well.”
Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr.
“Clayton is an exceptional player. He can make tough shots, and he was the difference in this game. We didn’t do enough to get the ball out of his hands, which was part of our game plan, but we didn’t execute. He was unstoppable for them, and I take responsibility for our 12 turnovers in the second half. That hurt us and disrupted our offense.”
Florida’s Second-Half Comeback
“We knew Florida would come out strong in the second half. I hoped our starters could hold up, and I didn’t call a timeout in the first few minutes, trying to make it to the TV timeout. But our offense faltered, and we didn’t run the plays the way we needed to. The turnovers, poor execution, and bad decision-making cost us.”
Shot Selection in the Second Half
“We just didn’t execute offensively in the second half. Florida deserves credit for their defense, but there were shots and reads we made in the first half that we didn’t make in the second.”
**Florida Defending Miles Kelly**
“They did a great job of limiting Miles Kelly’s chances, recognizing what a dangerous shooter he is. We had great offensive rhythm in the first half, scoring 46 points, but we didn’t maintain that in the second half. We stopped working offensively the way we had earlier.”
What Pearl Plans to Say to Tahaad Pettiford
“I haven’t spoken to Tahaad yet, but I know he’ll be disappointed with his performance tonight. He’s been outstanding all season, and I’m proud of him. Florida’s defense, with their size, made it tougher for him, and perhaps with a different coach, he would have gotten cleaner looks. But he’s one of the top freshmen in college basketball, and I’m confident in him.”