'...you could feel in the air today was a lot different...': Jones, Pettiford, Broome react to Auburn's win over Creighton

1-seed Auburn prevailed over 9-seed Creighton on Saturday night with a 82-70 win. The win advanced the Tigers to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019 and tied the program single-season record for wins at 30.

Denver Jones, Tahaad Pettiford and Johni Broome caught up with the media postgame and here’s everything they said.

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Q. Denver, yesterday Creighton coach Greg McDermott said whoever guards their point guard is going to be tired. Are you tired?

DENVER JONES: Not going to lie, I was pretty tired after the game. It was a lot of work chasing him around those screens.

Q. But you got it done and slowed down their offense in the second half. Talk about that and how it got done.

DENVER JONES: Honestly putting forth effort and energy. We talked about the type of team we were going to play and what we need to work on. And coming into this game you could feel in the air that today was a lot different than the other day. We came out here and proved it second half especially.

Q. Tahaad, another big game. You led Auburn in scoring today. Talk about what was working for you so well on the court today?

TAHAAD PETTIFORD: Just playing the offense. We knew the shots that we were going to get, just getting in the gym and working on those types of shots and being ready for the situation. My guys helped me get the ball, get me open and helped me find the shots that I wanted to get.

Q. Tahaad, I guess Chad Baker-Mazara was the table setter in that second half. When he went out with the hip injury, was that when you kinda thought I need to pick up the slack? I mean, everybody kinda picked up the slack on the bench for you guys.

TAHAAD PETTIFORD: Definitely losing a guy like Chad, he’s playing so well, he’s a big part of this team. Seeing him go down, everybody knew they had to step up and do what they had to do to get the win.

Q. Denver, you came to Auburn mostly considered a scorer and now your coach says you’re the best defensive guard in the country. I don’t want to call it a transformation but talk about that journey and what it takes for you to say, I might not score as much but I’m going to help my team win this way?

DENVER JONES: Honestly, that was the main reason why I came here. I came because I wanted to win and I knew the system. I knew the type of players that they were going to have here at Auburn.

Coming here obviously defense. The way we play defense is challenging already, just coming from another school but I wanted to be one of the best two-way guards in the league, and that was one of the main things I focused on, especially this off-season.

Q. You guys were able to control the boards, only 4 offensive rebounds for them. How important was it to limit the second-chance opportunities for Creighton?

JOHNI BROOME: It was very important. I think that was everybody being bought in to wanting to win. Obviously you have to contribute to be on the court. So if that’s what we have to do to rebound the basketball while our guards are having great games, Denver, Tahaad, Miles, Chad, those guys, we have to rebound the basketball in order to impact the game.

Q. Johni, it’s not often that you don’t hit double figures in scoring. Your teammates really stepped in to help fill that void. Talk about the trust that you had in them to carry the load offensively tonight.

JOHNI BROOME: For sure, I didn’t have a good offensive game. I shot 4 for 13 but that’s okay. I came here to win. This season is about winning. I know my teammates got my back and they know I have theirs. My shots weren’t falling, so I just had to do whatever I can to impact winning and I let everybody else do the scoring.

Q. Johni, what does it mean to have someone step up like Tahaad the last two games, 16 and 23 down the stretch to send you to the Sweet 16?

JOHNI BROOME: He’s a special freshman, you know? He understands the game. He’s learned a lot from kind of the older guys and he knows when the time that we need him to step up. He steps up to the challenge, you know, a lot of the times for us. That’s what you expect out of a guy like him.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks for your time, guys.

TAHAAD PETTIFORD: Happy birthday, mom!