We're talking to Bruce as he previews the Maui trip
- Opens up by saying he had Marlene research the amount of SEC teams that have won in Maui and it's only been two. He mentioned that the ACC has won 11 and Big Ten 8 times.
- "The way I look at it is we have the chance to play three great teams at a neutral site and find out where we're at but also help out our NCAA Tournament resume."
- Talking about Iowa State's defense, he mentioned that its backcourt is probably the best defensive backcourt in the country.
- More on Iowa State: "Being able to score against that defense - and the second thing is transition... those are going to be a couple of our biggest challenges."
- "Our bracket with Iowa State, North Carolina and Dayton is a great bracket." Mentioned that it's a opportunity to play some of the best teams in country but also it is two of the best teams in the country playing in the first round.
- He also noted that they've compared this path to the 2019 Final 4 run
- Pearl said that Jahki Howard and Ja'Heim Hudson are traveling and available to play
- On JP Pegues: "JP is super solid. I think he's better than he thinks he is sometimes... if he can see it, he can shoot it. I'd like to see him get more open looks."
- Pearl on what his offense has done well: "I think we've shot it pretty well. I think we've been a good inside-out team."
- Pearl said that they could do a better job of getting to the line
- "Mike Burgomaster has done a great job as our offensive coordinator."
- On his guys passing up a good shot for a great one at times: "That's the chemistry, that's the culture, that's the leadership... our guys recognize that playing great basketball is taking a shot when you're open but also making the right pass."
- Pearl said that Auburn's depth will help it a lot in these back-to-back-to-back games. "Our depth should continue to help us."
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