Auburn guards Miles Kelly, Tahaad Pettiford discuss win over Kentucky

Posted by author March 2, 2025 Sports

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Kelly and Pettiford credit proper preparation for solid performances over the Wildcats on Saturday.

While the Kentucky Wildcats are not the best team the Auburn Tigers have defeated this season, the 94-78 win is one of the biggest. It ended a streak of losses dating back to 1988 at Rupp Arena, and the win gave the Tigers at the time a share of the SEC regular season championship. That championship became an outright title after Tennessee beat Alabama later in the day.

Two key players in the victory on Saturday were guards Miles Kelly and Tahaad Pettiford. Kelly started the game on fire with 11 of the Tigers first 16 points. “I mean, I just came out feeling it”, Kelly said Saturday. He also added, “Every time I shot the ball, I thought it was going in.” He ended the game with 30 points, going 10 of 17 from the floor. Kelly was nine of 14 from the three-point line.

Pettiford had to play more minutes than he is used to due to the injury to Denver Jones. The freshman had a season-high of 33 minutes against the Wildcats. Pettiford scored 21 points and added four assists. After the game he was asked about playing the extended minutes.

“I was prepared, I’m ready”, Pettiford said. “Coach (Pearl) puts us in situations like this, so when the time presented itself, I was ready.”

The Tigers held the Wildcats to just 17 three-point attempts with only four making. Going into the game Kentucky averaged to shoot 25 a game. Kentucky’s percentage was down as well. On the season before the game, they were at 38%, but Saturday was down to 24%. Miles Kelly was asked about keeping Kentucky off the three-point line.

“We do the best job in the country preparing and scouting,” Kelly stated. “That was the gameplan to run them off the line.”

The Tigers have been the top team in the SEC from the start of conference play in what many are saying is the greatest conference season of all-time. Kelly responded to the accomplishment saying, “We’re some dogs, honestly.” He continued, “We come in every night, every game ready to rock out and play.”

The Tigers are not though despite clinching the conference title. On Tuesday night, the Tigers will be on the road again as they travel to play the Texas A&M Aggies. The game will be broadcast on ESPN with a tip-off time of 8 p.m. CT.

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