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PAGE 6A October 2023 PAGE 4B July 2024
Russ Potts Productions, Inc. (RPPI), in conjunction with the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) and the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau are proud to formally announce a marquee non-conference men’s basketball matchup between the Auburn Tigers and the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham. This will mark the first game of a two-year series between Auburn and Purdue as the schools will face off again as part of the Fourth Annual Indy Classic on Dec. 20, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. The Indy Classic is organized and operated by RPPI, Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Indiana Sports Corp. Purdue and Auburn have met on the hardwood three times with Purdue leading the all-time series, 2-1. The last meeting between the two schools took place during the 2016 season in the championship game of the Cancun Challenge with Purdue winning that game, 96-71. Prior to that, the Boilermakers and Tigers met in postseason play with a Purdue win (79-61) during the 2001 NIT Tournament and an Auburn win (59-58) during the 1985 NCAA Tournament. Auburn looks to defend its Southeastern Conference Tournament Championship from a year ago behind the return of All-American, SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player and All-SEC First Team selection Johni Broome (16.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award semifinalist). The senior forward/center is one of the top returning players in the country. He helped lead the Tigers to the third-most wins in program history, third- straight NCAA Tournament appearance and a 27-8 overall record in 2023-24. Head coach Bruce Pearl enters his 11th season on The Plains and is 14 wins away from becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history. Auburn will play one of the toughest non-conference schedules with three 2024 NCAA Final Four participants on its slate including Purdue, Alabama and defending national champion UConn (potential opponent at the Maui Invitational). The Tigers welcome seven newcomers to the squad including McDonald’s All-American and five-star rookie guard Tahaad Pettiford and three veteran transfers in JP Pegues (Furman), Miles Kelly (Georgia Tech) and Ja’Heim Hudson (SMU). “I am grateful to Matt Painter and the Purdue Boilermakers for agreeing to a two-game series to be played this year in Birmingham and next year in Indianapolis,” Pearl said. “Matt has one of the finest college basketball programs in the country. His kids play hard and play the right way. Purdue is one of the top programs in the Big Ten winning three conference championships and being ranked No. 1 nationally over the last three seasons. “We are excited about playing in Birmingham, which will serve as an NCAA Regional site. With a quality opponent like Purdue, I would anticipate us selling out Legacy Arena. I know the Auburn Family will step up and meet that challenge. We are excited for our players, because if you want to be the best, you have to play the best.” Purdue is coming off an appearance in the NCAA Championship game and a 34-5 record. Braden Smith (12.0 ppg, 7.5 apg, Cousy Award finalist), Fletcher Loyer (10.3 ppg, 63 three-pointers) and Trey Kaufman-Renn (6.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg) each return after starting all 39 games a year ago, in addition to three other players that played at least 31 games last season. Head coach Matt Painter also welcomes a five-member recruiting class that is ranked among the Top 10 nationally. The Boilermakers are consistently rated in the Top 15 in the Top-25 polls entering the 2024-25 season. “We are excited to be part of an outstanding two-year series with Auburn, beginning in December in Birmingham, then returning to Indianapolis in 2025,” Painter said. “We strive to make our non-conference schedule very competitive, and Auburn will be one of the top teams in the SEC this coming season.” “We are thrilled to announce one of the top non- conference games of the season with Auburn taking on Purdue in Birmingham. We anticipate a full house and tremendous atmosphere on Dec. 21 in Legacy Arena,” said RPPI President, Zach Franz. “The BJCC is honored to host an exciting non- conference game between the Auburn Tigers and Purdue Boilermakers,” said Executive Director & CEO of the BJCC, Tad Snider. “We are thrilled to see how recent investments in Legacy Arena continue to make downtown Birmingham and the greater Birmingham area a premier destination for sports, entertainment, conventions, and meetings. Our team looks forward to showcasing all that our city has to offer to visitors, athletes, and fans during this series.” Tickets for the event will go on sale in the coming months on Ticketmaster.com. C OLLINSVILLE D RUGS Brandon Boswell h Pharmacist/Owner h 256-524-2981 “Caring for You Like Family” Auburn and Purdue Set to compete at BJCC In Birmingham
Photo Courtesy of Alabama Athletics
SEC Media Days Held in Dallas Alabama head football Coach Kalen Deboer (far left) joins ESPN commentators, including former Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban, on set during the 2024 SEC Media Days in Dallas.
By Myra W. Pierce The Sports Ledger
“His father played there. His brother played there. It's vitally important to him, and he's a great member of our squad.” Omari Thomas, who was attending Media Day for his second time, is a four-year starter at defensive tackle for the Volunteers. “He's kind of the mayor inside of our locker room,” commented Heupel. Wednesday July 17 featured first year Alabama Coach Kalen Deboer along with Crimson Tide Players Tyler Booker, Jalen Milroe and Malachi Moore. "These guys have just been special from the beginning," said Deboer. Other teams participating on July 17 were Florida, Mississippi State, and SEC newcomer Texas. The 2024 SEC Media Days concluded on Thursday, July 18 with Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky, and Texas A&M. Auburn was represented by Head Coach Hugh Freeze, Senior Quarterback Payton Thorne, Senior Linebacker Eugene Asante, and Sophomore Keldric Faulk. “There’s great excitement in our building right now,” said Auburn Coach’s Hugh Freeze. “I think our players sense that there’s a chemistry among our staff that’s pretty special. That provides a confidence and an energy to our players and the way they go about chasing the standards that we’ve set for each other,” Freeze also believes that Thorne will have a “successful” year at Quarterback. “I felt like we could put some pieces around him that would allow him to reach his potential and I’ve seen it on film,” Freeze said. The Tigers will find out just how successful the program will be this fall, when the season opens on August 31. Auburn will host Alabama A&M and kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium. It will be the first of five straight home games for the Tigers. Alabama men's basketball head coach Nate Oats has hired Brian Adams as assistant coach. Adams comes to Tuscaloosa with over a decade worth of coaching in the NBA as an assistant coach. Most recently, Adams served as an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons during the 2023- 24 season. "We are thrilled to welcome Brian Adams to our staff and will be a huge asset to our program,” Oats said. “Brian came highly recommended from a lot of coaches throughout the NBA and college ranks and is known for his relentless work ethic and the energy he brings. Brian’s primary focus will be on the defensive end and has excelled on that end of the court throughout his coaching career. Not only is Brian a great coach but is also a high character individual and has coached in the NBA where our players eventually want to continue their careers. We are excited to welcome him and his family to Tuscaloosa.” "I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to work at the University of Alabama under Nate Oats,” Adams said. “The chance to work for one of the premier college basketball programs in the country and to work for one of the best coaches in the game is very exciting. Coach Oats has implemented an NBA-style system and I am excited to help etch out a defensive identity.” Adams also spent time previously as the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers G League affiliate, the Agua Caliente Clippers, and has coached current NBA players Cade Cunningham, Joel Embiid, James Harden and Anfernee Simons. Adams has also coached oversees, serving as head coach in the professional ranks in Taiwan, for the Taipei Taishin Mars in the T1 League. The native of Pine Plains, N.Y. has also coached in college with stints at Harvard University and Marist College as an assistant coach. “Brian is a high character, loyal, Roll Tide type dude. He is loyal and will make the Crimson Tide Nation proud with his ability to relate to and elevate the young men who hoop for Alabama.” – Monty Williams, Former Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns Head Coach. Alabama Men's Basketball Adds Assistant Coach
The 2024 SEC Media Days were held in Dallas, TX on July 15-18. Two new members, Texas and Oklahoma were added to the agenda for the first time, to make the total SEC teams sixteen. The head coaches, along with three players from each team participated in the four-day event, which started on Monday July 15. The first four teams to address the media were LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee were center stage on Tuesday, July 16. Volunteers Fourth-year head coach Josh Heupel, senior center Cooper Mays, senior linebacker Keenan Pili and senior defensive tackle Omari Thomas represented Tennessee at the event. “We got three really special individuals that are with us today. They represent all that's good in college football. They represent what it means to be a Vol,” commented Heupel. “I take great pride in that we could have had a lot of different players come with us here to Dallas and have an opportunity to speak with you, but these three guys have unique stories and are great ambassadors for the Tennessee Volunteers.” Heupel said that Keenan Pili has started over 37 games in his career. “Unfortunately had a season-ending injury week one of last year, decided to come back for another year of college football. He loves his experience on Rocky Top and is a dynamic play maker that's poised to have an unbelievable season.” Cooper Mays is a preseason all-American center and has started for four straight years. “It's in his blood to be on Rocky Top,” said Heupel. Season Opening Football Game Schedules Set The 2024 high school and college football seasons are almost here and the opening week schedules for both have been set. The AHSAA High School football season kicks off with some games on Thursday, August 22 and several more during week zero action on Friday, August 23. SEC Football action begins August 29-31 and the weekend fun ends in Las Vegas on September 1 when LSU faces off against South Cal. The opening week schedules are below. Find more schedules in the August print edition of The Sports Ledger. Thursday, August 22, 2024 By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger
Arab at Albertville Geraldine at Sardis
Muscle Shoals at Gadsden City Friday, August 23, 2024 Madison County at Boaz Asbury at Gaston Guntersville at Southside DAR at Brindlee Mountain Fort Payne at Scottsboro Cedar Bluff at Valley Head North Jackson at Sylvania Ider at Section Piedmont at Cherokee County Sand Rock at Spring Garden
Donoho at Gaylesville Jacksonville at Etowah Coosa Christian at Pierce County, GA Pleasant Valley at West End Glencoe at Southeastern JB Pennington at Susan Moore College Football: August 29-31, 2024 UAPB at Arkansas (Thursday, August 29 - 6:30 p.m.) Coastal Carolina at JSU (Thursday, August 29 - 7 p.m.) Murray State at Missouri (Thursday, August 29 - 7 p.m.) Temple at Oklahoma (Friday, August 30 - 6 p.m.) Georgia vs. Clemson (Saturday, August 31 - 11 a.m.) Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt (August 31 - 11 a.m.) UT Chattanooga at Tennessee (August 31 - 11:45 a.m.) Miami (Fla.) at Florida (August 31 - 2:30 p.m.) Colorado State at Texas (August 31 - 2:30 p.m.) Old Dominion at South Carolina (August 31 - 3:15 p.m.) Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State (August 31 - 5 p.m.) Western Kentucky at Alabama (August 31 - 6 p.m.) Furman at Ole Miss (August 31 - 6 p.m.) Notre Dame at Texas A&M (August 31 - 6:30 p.m.) Alabama A&M at Auburn (August 31 - 6:30 - p.m.) Southern Miss at Kentucky (August 31 - 6:45 p.m.) Sunday, September 1, 2024 LSU vs. Southern Cal (Las Vegas) 6:30 p.m.
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