Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl views Aden Holloway’s transfer to Alabama as a positive outcome for both sides. The former McDonald’s All-American guard played for the Tigers last season, helping them secure an SEC Tournament title and earn a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, he transferred to Alabama at the end of the season, where he has since thrived.
Now, Holloway is preparing to face his former team for the first time as No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Alabama clash in a historic SEC matchup on Saturday. Despite the high stakes, Pearl holds no ill will toward his former player and believes the move has benefited everyone involved.
“I think things have worked out really well for both,” Pearl said. “Aden’s playing great, his confidence is up. He’s one of the most dangerous players coming off the bench in the SEC. And I’m happy for him. I’m not going to be happy for him when he’s hitting deep shots against us, but I think Auburn has done well, too. The guys we brought in have helped us, so I see it as a win-win.”
Holloway’s performance at Alabama has significantly improved, as he’s averaging 4.5 more points per game than he did at Auburn. His shooting efficiency has also increased across all categories, including field goal, three-point, two-point, and free throw percentages.
Pearl acknowledged that Holloway’s familiarity with Auburn’s defensive strategies could make him even more dangerous in Saturday’s game. “Aden knows how we guard and how we’ll try to guard him, and there’s no doubt he wants to beat Auburn,” Pearl said. “But like I said, I’m happy he’s playing well and in a great spot.”
Despite Holloway’s transfer to a rival school, there appears to be no hard feelings from Auburn’s players. Guard Denver Jones emphasized that their former teammate is still respected. “He’s a brother, always will be a brother,” Jones said. “Obviously, he played here, so we know his game. It’ll be fun playing against him again.”
As Auburn and Alabama prepare for a historic showdown, both teams recognize the significance of the matchup. And while Holloway has found success with the Crimson Tide, Auburn remains confident in the players they’ve brought in to replace him.
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