Bruce Pearl is here to speak with us after last night's win against Mississippi State.
- A lot of change since last time Auburn played South Carolina. They are one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Won 5 of last 6. 4-4 on road.
- Tigers played well on road against Gamecocks earlier this year. Forced 20 turnovers last time.
- Our offense in half-court continues to be challenging. Scouting reports are out and everyone is struggling a little bit in half-court offense.
- Be a challenge for the guards to guard their guards.
- Really pleased with last night's outcome. Only previous loss by MSU at home in SEC was to Tennessee. Big game for both teams last night.
- Auburn is playing for two things now: a No. 1 seed and an outright title.
- On Kessler: "He got clipped pretty good in the Tennessee game. It was a common foul. He got hit twice. It was chippy at best. He did suffer an injury to his shoulder but, he's got the brace on it and he's working through it."
- On 3-guard lineup: "When you lose a 19-point lead, as a coach you do kind of throw things up in the air and see what sails." Says he felt things needed to be shaken up a bit, turned the ball over too much in 2nd half.
- "I don't know the specifics. I'm sure there is. But honestly I have been on South Carolina so hard." - On SEC title celebration. Marlene, the SID, chimes in and says there will be something.
- On Jaylin: "He just doesn't have enough opportunity because he is playing behind Jabari." Mentions against South Carolina the first time, Jaylin had 18 because Jabari picked up two early fouls. "He's playing behind the best player on the floor every night."
- On Flanigan: "He's still not 100 percent from recovering from his injury."
- Mentions team shot better on Wednesday but rebounding, obviously, is still a concern.
- Pearl won't comment anymore on Kessler injury. And on tie-breaking scenario, Pearl isn't sure. "Kind of shows you what I have been working on this morning. I'm not working on celebrations and not working on scenarios. Been trying to figure out how to guard South Carolina."
- Says this team has been great to coach. They all get along. They work well together. Had to work them hard extremely early. Team has been locked and loaded.
- On honoring Preston and Chase, two seniors, on Saturday: "Preston is a local boy who has helped on scout team. Helps get team prepared. He would probably play a lot if he was at a mid-major program"
- On Chase: "He's our spiritual leader. He's an old soul. He's engaged to be married. He's a great student. He's already begun his own business ... He's a student minister. He leads us in bible story. Just a wonderful, wonderful young man."
- "It will be at all-cost. We are trying to win this game. Seeding matters. The NCAA Tournament seeding matters. The SEC Tournament seeding matters."
- Says South Carolina is a signature win against Auburn and a win or two in SEC Tourney from maybe making NCAA Tournament.
- On if improving on last-second shot needed: "Yeah , it probably is. If Jabari was the point guard, it would be a lot easier to get him the ball for the last shot."
- Wendell's five steals, two in overtimes: "He's a great competitor and I trust him. He's physically undersized ... but there's been a lot of games where putting the ball in his hands has been a good thing." Mentions he got a little banged up in practice earlier this week and in the game last night.
That's it for Bruce Pearl today.
- A lot of change since last time Auburn played South Carolina. They are one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Won 5 of last 6. 4-4 on road.
- Tigers played well on road against Gamecocks earlier this year. Forced 20 turnovers last time.
- Our offense in half-court continues to be challenging. Scouting reports are out and everyone is struggling a little bit in half-court offense.
- Be a challenge for the guards to guard their guards.
- Really pleased with last night's outcome. Only previous loss by MSU at home in SEC was to Tennessee. Big game for both teams last night.
- Auburn is playing for two things now: a No. 1 seed and an outright title.
- On Kessler: "He got clipped pretty good in the Tennessee game. It was a common foul. He got hit twice. It was chippy at best. He did suffer an injury to his shoulder but, he's got the brace on it and he's working through it."
- On 3-guard lineup: "When you lose a 19-point lead, as a coach you do kind of throw things up in the air and see what sails." Says he felt things needed to be shaken up a bit, turned the ball over too much in 2nd half.
- "I don't know the specifics. I'm sure there is. But honestly I have been on South Carolina so hard." - On SEC title celebration. Marlene, the SID, chimes in and says there will be something.
- On Jaylin: "He just doesn't have enough opportunity because he is playing behind Jabari." Mentions against South Carolina the first time, Jaylin had 18 because Jabari picked up two early fouls. "He's playing behind the best player on the floor every night."
- On Flanigan: "He's still not 100 percent from recovering from his injury."
- Mentions team shot better on Wednesday but rebounding, obviously, is still a concern.
- Pearl won't comment anymore on Kessler injury. And on tie-breaking scenario, Pearl isn't sure. "Kind of shows you what I have been working on this morning. I'm not working on celebrations and not working on scenarios. Been trying to figure out how to guard South Carolina."
- Says this team has been great to coach. They all get along. They work well together. Had to work them hard extremely early. Team has been locked and loaded.
- On honoring Preston and Chase, two seniors, on Saturday: "Preston is a local boy who has helped on scout team. Helps get team prepared. He would probably play a lot if he was at a mid-major program"
- On Chase: "He's our spiritual leader. He's an old soul. He's engaged to be married. He's a great student. He's already begun his own business ... He's a student minister. He leads us in bible story. Just a wonderful, wonderful young man."
- "It will be at all-cost. We are trying to win this game. Seeding matters. The NCAA Tournament seeding matters. The SEC Tournament seeding matters."
- Says South Carolina is a signature win against Auburn and a win or two in SEC Tourney from maybe making NCAA Tournament.
- On if improving on last-second shot needed: "Yeah , it probably is. If Jabari was the point guard, it would be a lot easier to get him the ball for the last shot."
- Wendell's five steals, two in overtimes: "He's a great competitor and I trust him. He's physically undersized ... but there's been a lot of games where putting the ball in his hands has been a good thing." Mentions he got a little banged up in practice earlier this week and in the game last night.
That's it for Bruce Pearl today.
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