Auburn’s historic season ends here—and not in the way fans hoped. Up by 8 in the second half, the Tigers had us all thinking they might just pull this off. But sadly no. A string of costly turnovers and missed free throws cracked the door open for Florida, and the Gators went full throttle. Even Bruce Pearl’s star shooter, who shot a decent 59.3% this season, just couldn’t find the net when it mattered most.
And speaking of not giving their best, Tahaad Pettiford—who’s usually a walking bucket—put up just 7 points, shooting 1-of-6. Coach Pearl didn’t hold back, saying, “He wasn’t elite tonight,” and even added Pettiford himself would admit that. He’s been sensational all year, but this just wasn’t it.
Actually, not just him, the Tigers looked…off. Not like the squad we’ve watched dominate all year. Was it the Gators’ grit? Or something deeper? Well…
