The Bachelor’s Madison Prewett brings ‘buzz’ to Auburn basketball

Bruce Pearl never watched a minute of “The Bachelor” — until Monday night.

Auburn’s coach had his reason, of course, for tuning into the hit ABC reality television show: A member of the Auburn basketball family is a contestant on the 24th season of the show, which held its 3-hour season debut Monday.

“I know it’s a buzz for the program,” Pearl said Tuesday ahead of his team’s SEC home opener against Vanderbilt on Wednesday. “It’s very exciting for the Prewett family. Madison is a spectacular young lady stepping way out of her Christian comfort zone to be on a show like ‘The Bachelor.’ I think she had the courage to be her own woman and to play by her own rules. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen the show. I had never watched it before, but we were kind of glued to it last night.”

Madison Prewett made a strong first impression on the show, which included a short featurette about her upbringing in Auburn — complete with cameos from her father, Aubie the Tiger, Auburn Arena and Samford Hall.

She grew up in Auburn, where she attended Lee-Scott Academy and played basketball under her father, who coached both boys and girls basketball at LSA for seven seasons before joining Pearl’s staff at Auburn in 2014, first serving as special assistant to the head coach and then holding the director of basketball operations title, with a stint as an interim assistant coach as well.

Madison Prewett won four state titles playing under her father at Lee-Scott — in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 — and finished her career with a state runner-up finish in 2014, when the Warriors fell to Glenwood, 15-2, in the AISA championship game. She was a three-time All-State honoree, making the ASWA AISA All-State first team as a senior and junior, while earning honorable mention during her sophomore season.

On her “The Bachelor” debut, Madison Prewett earned the first one-on-one date with the bachelor, Peter Weber, who took her to his parents’ house for their 31st wedding anniversary and a renewal of their marriage vows. She ultimately received a rose to advance on the show.

“I think his choosing Madison to go on his first date and meet his family says a lot about him, too, for the kind of person and young lady he was looking for,” Pearl said. “Madison Prewett lets the light shine upon her, God’s light shines upon her and she doesn’t shy from it. Hopefully she’ll shine a little light upon that show.”

While Pearl couldn’t turn away from the season premiere, it’s unclear which other members of the fifth-ranked Tigers — outside of the Prewett family — tuned into the show, though senior center Austin Wiley saw plenty of buzz about it on social media.

“I don’t know where they’re at, at the show, but I’m just rooting for Madi,” Wiley said. “I hope she wins.”