Auburn basketball star freshman Tahaad Pettiford was built for March Madness
Auburn’s Dylan Cardwell sat in front of his locker, game-worn uniform still on. He shook his head and shrugged, his mind searching for something more sophisticated, less uncouth. But it’s no use.“Two words: big balls,” Cardwell said, sheepishly. “He’s just special. There’s nothing he can’t do.”Cardwell was talking about teammate Tahaad Pettiford minutes after the freshman point guard scored 20 points in a Sweet 16 win over Michigan. Fifteen of those points came in the second half, Pettiford sparking a 20-2 run that erased a nine-point deficit and carried the Tigers to the Elite Eight.AdvertisementIt all flowed from Pettiford’s blend of poise and flair, the 6-foot-1, 19-year-old playing well beyond his size and years. There was a tide-turning 3-pointer off a broken play, a stepback jumper and a silky driving layup. By the time he drilled a spinning, Kobe-esque fadeaway […]
