Brief thoughts after Auburn's critical and commanding win over rival Alabama

AUBURN -- Bruce Pearl said it after No. 12 Auburn's 99-81 win over No. 16 Alabama. If the Tigers didn't come away with a win on Wednesday night, they weren't going to win the SEC regular season championship. The hill would have been too tall to climb with just eight games left. Fortunately, for Auburn, they did win, and they now sit stop the standings, tied with Alabama and South Carolina, and with Tennessee right there as well, a half game back for the moment. Following the win, Auburn sits at No. 3 in T-Rank ratings, No. 3 in EvanMiya, No. 4 in KenPom, No. 4 in ESPN's BPI and No. 7 in the NET. The Tigers are the only team in college basketball inside the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency according to KenPom and T-Rank. Go inside for a whole bunch of brief thoughts on the win, this Auburn team and what lies ahead...