When Tahaad Pettiford decided to come back for his sophomore season, little did he know that he would be playing for a new head coach in Steven Pearl. Still, the guard is expected to be one of the top players in the country, returning to the Plains after a freshman season that saw him average 11.6 points and 3.0 assists per game, helping lead Auburn to the Final Four.
He is joined by practically a whole new cast, including UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall, for the 2025-26 season, as Auburn saw its entire starting lineup either graduate or transfer following last year.