Bruce Pearl previews his 'hardest working team', Charles Barkley excited about Auburn basketball

AUBURN – For the second straight season, Bruce Pearl will put a brand new team on the court. Last year, it was youth that led to a bunch of guys with little experience trying to navigate the season. This year, there’s a little more college basketball experience, but through transfers and freshmen, the same challenge of rebuilding a cohesive unit.

Auburn Live caught up with Pearl before the Bruce, Barkley and Basketball golf event at Grand National in Opelika, Alabama on Monday morning.

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“I see great effort. The guys are working hard to come together,” Bruce Pearl said. “I see potentially four or five new starters for the second year in a row. Once again, the roster looks completely different. We have new guys that are all going to play. Practices have looked really good. This is the hardest working group I’ve had.”

Pearl confirmed what Auburn Live reported weeks ago, that Auburn will take part in a closed scrimmage at UAB in late October. The Tigers will also scrimmage Southern Indiana.

Pearl mentioned that the team is really focusing on getting in better shape earlier in the season. Normally, the team wants to be hitting their stride late December and not overdoing it before then. But with the Battle 4 Atlantis in late November, Auburn is working to get in better playing shape earlier in the season.

Auburn will be without returning starter Allen Flanigan until at least December, maybe longer, after an Achilles injury on his right leg happened during a scooter accident in August.

“Allen is doing great. Everything looks great with his recovery,” Pearl said. “It’s a very serious injury and we probably won’t know anything for 10-12 weeks post surgery. I’m keeping his spirits up and keeping him engaged. We’re working on left leg strength and see if that helps him go downhill right or left. We have to prepare for the reality of him coming back mid December.

“It’s harder without Allen. We are young on the frontline. Allen is our most physical player and most physical defender. It’s a big loss. You don’t replace an Allen Flanigan. There will be opportunities for other guys. Chris Moore would be a guy to step in. Chris has changed his body, he’s lighter, explosive. Devan (Cambridge) is defending better, rebounding at a high level, we’re just trying to get the shot more consistent.”

Auburn should still go ten deep, even without Flanigan. New point guard Wendell Green Jr., transfer from Eastern Kentucky, looks to take over the duties of running Pearl’s offense this season.

“I think Wendell (Green) offensively is talented and not afraid of the moment,” Pearl said. “He’ll make big shots. We have a new cast of characters playing point guard. I like the talent, but it’s tough position to be new at.”

[Hoop Scoops: Latest on Nick Smith’s recruitment]

More from Bruce Pearl

On Tipoff at Toomer’s event: “I hope we improve the programming. For me, it’s the event. This is Toomer’s Corner and there’s a basketball court sitting in the middle. It’s cool for our community. I think it’ll be similar. The court limits us to what we can do. There’s some big recruiting weekends in October.”

On Charles Barkely’s involvement with Auburn: “We’re looking at a year or so wince we lost Coach Dye. I think about from time to time, how many Auburn men will it take to make up for Pat Dye. Guys like Charles Barkley, Bo Jackson, coaches and all of us together to make up for Coach Dye. Every time he comes back – he loves Auburn and loves Auburn basketball.”

On staying under budget within the basketball program: “You won’t find me flying first class on an airplane. I’ll be in coach. I’m a state employee, I know my salary, but I’m going to spend our money wisely. We aren’t going to waste our money. We’ve been under budget every year we’ve been at Auburn.”

Charles Barkley calls Final Four run ‘greatest sports experience’ outside of the Olympics

Charles Barkley is an NBA Hall of Famer, Olympic gold medalist, NBA MVP, and the list goes on and on. Barkley’s is a consensus top 100 player in the history of professional basketball. And with all those great moments, it was Auburn’s Final Four run that is one he’ll cherish near the top of his life’s experiences.

“I’ve had an amazing, blessed life. Auburn going to the Final Four is probably my greatest sports experience,” Barkley said. “Never in my wildest dream did I think that Auburn would make it to the Final Four. I’ll never forget that. That was an amazing accomplishment. Now that we’re consistently a good program, it’s even better. We have a great coach — I’m excited about our program.”

“If you told me we were going to beat the three winnegest programs on the way to the Final Four — wow. And to stick it up Kenny (Smith)’s ass on the show made it even more special. I tell people, I’m excited about our program going forward. It’s fun when Auburn does great in basketball.”

Jabari Smith is poised to be Auburn’s best player this season. Early NBA draft projections have Smith as a lottery pick, maybe even a top five selection. Barkley hasn’t seen Smith play yet, but has heard good things.

“I can only go by scouting reports. I hear he’s a terrific young player,” Barkley said. “You have to wait and see it. You never know how people are going to react until you see the bright lights come on. For Jabari, when they start playing for real, we’ll get the test. You can always assume, but you have to wait and see what happens.”