< PreviousOLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE: MEN’S BASKETBALL 99 It was the last stop of the day for Jaylin Williams and Johni Broome at this year’s SEC Tipoff event in Birmingham. Williams was doing an interview for social media, holding one of the tiny microphones, and he was being asked everything from his favorite musical artist to who was the best dresser on the team. The interview ended with one final question. What is the expectation for this Auburn team? “Win championships,” Williams re- sponded. Williams, who was representing Au- burn for the second straight year at SEC Tipoff, was part of a regular-season SEC championship his junior year (2021-22). The Tigers won an SEC Tournament title the year before he arrived (2018-19) and another regular-season conference championship the year before that (2017-18). This year, Auburn was picked to finish sixth in the SEC by the media. “That’s perfectly fine,” Broome said when asked Wednesday if people were sleeping on Auburn. “They can sleep if they want. They’re going to get woken up here soon.” With Broome and Williams, Auburn returns two of its top three leading scorers from last year’s team. Broome, a presea- son First Team All-SEC selection, led the Tigers in points (14.2), rebounds (8.4) and blocks (2.4) per game. But it’s an influx of talent from the transfer portal with Denver Jones, Chad Baker-Mazara and Chaney Johnson along with the addi- tion of freshman point guard Aden Holloway that has head coach Bruce Pearl excited about this year’s team. There’s depth and competition at every position. So much so that Pearl has yet to nail down his starting lineup. “I told the team last week that I was going to be letting them know this week who the starting five was,” Pearl said. “I’ve not been asked by one player. We’ve got so much parity, so much competition at each position, I’m not sure they want to know – which I think is a good thing. “The bad thing is when the ball gets tossed, our five guys might not be that much better than anybody else’s five guys. But when I go to the bench, I’m not dropping off. We will have a 10-man rotation. I’ve got some tough decisions to make because literally I would say almost nine guys out of the 10 really anticipate that they’re going to be the starter.” The Tigers are not just deep. They’re experienced, too. Of the 10 players in the expected rotation, eight are upperclass- men. None more than Williams. With one more win, he will become the winningest player in Auburn basketball history – a note Pearl shared with the fifth-year senior on the plane ride from Auburn to Birmingham. “Whenever we win that first game, it’s going to be very special for me and my family,” Williams said. “I’m blessed to share that with the Auburn Family.” The only two underclassmen in the rotation are both at point guard, the quar- terback of the team, but Pearl is excited about the young duo of Holloway and Tre Donaldson. “I think quarterback play is pretty important in the SEC,” Pearl said. “It’s only the position we’re young at. They can both really shoot it. They can both shoot it as well as any of the point guards I’ve had. The question is will they play-make as well? Will they defend as well? Will they lead a team as well? That’s a lot of stuff to be determined. “They’re both very capable. Aden has some- thing special in him, from the standpoint of being a gamer. Tre has some tough- ness and leadership in him. They’re both going to play.” Next week, the Tigers will travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to face No. 20 Baylor in what is as chal- lenging a season opener as they have had since Pearl has been the head coach. But it’s the perfect chance for Broome, Williams and the rest of the team to make a statement. It’s the perfect chance to wake people up to this Auburn team. OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE: MEN’S BASKETBALL AUBURNTIGERS.COM BY GREG OSTENDORF SEC TIPOFF: TIGERS DEEP, CONFIDENT AND HUNGRY FOR NEW SEASONREESON Industrial Maintenance - Welding - Pipe Fabrication Ph. (256) 378-7727 • Fax (256) 378-7728 P.O. 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Recognizing Faculty Athletics Representatives. NFF FUTURE FOR FOOTBALL - Celebrating the positive impact the game has made on millions of players, coaches, administrators, volunteers and fans nationwide. NFF CHAPTER NETWORK - Distributing $1 million in scholarships annually and holding local events to promote amateur football through 120 chapters in 47 states. NFF NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS AND HATCHELL CUP - Recognizing the nation’s top high school football programs for their efforts in the classroom, on the field and in the community via the National High School Academic Excellence Awards, presented by Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, and the Hatchell Cup, presented by “The Original” Bob’s Steak & Chop House, which is awarded to the best team in the nation.Auburn Sports Properties is owned and operated by Playfly,the official worldwide marketer of Auburn University Athletics. Auburn Sports Properties is the exclusive marketer and producer of Auburn sports programming such as radio and television broadcasts, corporate hospitality, in-venue signage, social media integration, promotional activities, and intellectual property rights. Advertisers and marketers with a statewide, regional, or na- tional interest can utilize Auburn Sports Properties as a “one stop shop” for the following: n Statewide & Regional Radio Network n Statewide & Regional Television n Stadium & Arena Signage n Publications n Promotional Rights n Coaches Endorsements n Event Marketing & Sponsorship n Digital Strategy The Auburn Sports Network is the radio division of Auburn Sports Properties and provides coverage throughout the state of Alabama and portions of Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi with its almost 50 station radio network. 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AUBURN SPORTS PROPERTIES 103 AUBURNTIGERS.COMTown ...........................Affiliate .....Frequency Abbeville........................WESZ .................98.7 FM Albany, GA ....................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Alexander City ............WKGA .................97.5 FM Andalusia .......................WAAO.................93.7 FM Atlanta, GA ..................WXKG ...............1010 AM Auburn ...........................WGZZ ................94.3 FM Bainbridge, GA ...........WMGR ..............99.3 FM Bainbridge, GA ...........WMGR ..............930 AM Birmingham .................WJQX ..............100.5 FM Centre .............................WEIS ................100.5 FM Centre .............................WEIS ...................990 AM Columbus, GA ............WVRK ..............102.9 FM Cullman..........................WKUL .................92.1 FM Demopolis .....................WZNJ ...............106.5 FM Dothan............................WESP ...............102.5 FM Eufaula ...........................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Evergreen .....................WPPG ................101.1 FM Flomaton .......................WPFL ................105.1 FM Florence .........................WMSR ...............94.9 FM Foley ................................WHEP ................92.5 FM Foley ................................WHEP ................1310 AM Fort Payne .....................WZOB .............100.9 FM Fort Payne .....................WZOB ..............1250 AM Gadsden ........................WGAD ...............99.3 FM Gadsden ........................WGAD .............1350 AM Greenville ......................WQZX ................94.3 FM Gulf Shores ...................WAVH ..............106.5 FM Guntersville ..................WTWX ...............95.9 FM Hackleburg ...................WFMH ...............95.5 FM Huntsville ......................WQRV ............100.3 FM Jasper ..............................WJBE ..................88.5 FM LaGrange, GA .............WELR ...............102.3 FM Macon, GA ....................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Mobile .............................WAVH ..............106.5 FM Montgomery ................WLWI .................92.3 FM Moulton .........................WALW ................97.9 FM Ocean Springs, MS....WAVH ..............106.5 FM Oxford.............................WTDR ................92.7 FM Panama City, FL .........WGSX ..............104.3 FM Pensacola, FL ..............WPFL ................105.1 FM Priceville ........................WAFN ................1310 AM Roanoke.........................WELR ...............102.3 FM Scottsboro ....................WWIC ..............1050 AM Selma ..............................WHBB ..............1490 AM Spartanburg, SC .........WASC ..............1530 AM Sylacauga ......................WYEA .............100.3 FM Sylacauga ......................WYEA ...............1290 AM Thomasville ..................WJDB .................95.5 FM Troy ..................................WTBF ..................970 AM Tuscaloosa ....................WJQX ..............100.5 FM Vernon ............................WVSA ..............100.7 FM Vernon ............................WJEC ..............106.5 FM Auburn Mobile App & AuburnTigers.com 2023 AUBURN FOOTBALL RADIO AFFILIATES AUBURN FOOTBALL REVIEW SHOW The Auburn Football Review television show features Coach Hugh Freeze. 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Market ..........................................................................................................................................................Station Alexander City ..............................................................................................................................................................WAXC-TV 3 Auburn/Columbus ................................................................................................................................................WLTZ NBC 38 Birmingham ................................................................................................................................................................WAMB My68 Huntsville .....................................................................................................................................................................WAAY31 ABC Mobile ..........................................................................................................................................................................WJTC UTV-44 Montgomery .............................................................................................................................................................................WCOV Rainsville ....................................................................................................................................................................................FTC TV Regional ......................................................................................................................................................Bally Sports Southeast Auburn Tigers.com and YouTube BEN HARLING General Manager ANDY BURCHAM Play-By-Play RONNIE BROWN Sideine Analyst PAUL ELLEN Pre/Postgame Host WILL HERRING Sideline Analyst BRAD LAW Producer, Locker Room Host JASON CAMPBELL Color Analyst PATRICK TISDALE Engineer GENE DULANEY Spotter/Stats DAVID JONES Director, Partnership Development TELLY STRATAS Director, Partnership Development BRENT MOORE Director, Partnership Development JACOB HILLMAN Manager, Partner Services STEPHANIE SNELL Director, Partner Services 104 AUBURN SPORTS PROPERTIES AUBURNTIGERS.COMNext >