AUBURN, Ala. - One week into a nine-week grind, the chase for the SEC men's basketball championship is every bit as competitive as Auburn coach Bruce Pearl thought it would be.
"I don't know that there's a team in our league that can't win anywhere, whether it's home or on the road," Pearl said. "You see five teams that are ranked and eight teams that are either ranked or getting votes. The road teams have had some success.
"If you look at the teams that are at the bottom right now, they've either beaten or been right there with some of the teams that are at the top of the league. Some of the teams that are at the bottom during the non-conference are now up at the top. It's just been really competitive. I think the grind for us, for the 16 games that are remaining, is getting excited about playing each and every opponent."HELLO, SCHOLLYWith their families crowding into the locker room to share in a special moment, walk-ons Cole Blackstock and Will Macoy received scholarships Saturday after Auburn's 93-78 win over Georgia.
Before the new scholarship recipients could hug their parents, they were surrounded by happy teammates, eager to celebrate their accomplishment.
Blackstock, a 6-9 senior power forward, is in fourth season in the program. Macoy, a 6-4 junior guard, is in his third.
"They're great kids, great student-athletes, hard-workers, great students, they have great families and they didn't do it for the reward," Pearl said. "They came into practice every day. Cole has had to go up against big guys over the years, battle and make them better. Will actually came and ran track. He's a pretty good athlete.
"I'm really happy that Auburn was able to reward a couple of really terrific Auburn men. The best part about the whole thing was the celebration in the locker room. The greatest part about the whole thing was hugging on those families and the way our players responded to their teammates getting on scholarship."SATURDAY SELLOUTS
No. 14 Auburn's win over Georgia was the first of five consecutive SEC Saturday sellouts at Auburn Arena, which seats 9,121.
"Our kids played hard the first couple of years, but we were outmatched, outmanned, and we still had really good crowds," Pearl said. "Right now, we are competitive and right now that is just all we are. We won a championship a year ago but right now, all we are is competitive and we have a long way to go."TEXAS ROAD TRIPThe next stop on Auburn's journey is College Station, Texas, where Texas A&M (7-7, 1-2) hosts the Tigers Wednesday at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
Auburn hosts No. 12 Kentucky Saturday at 3 p.m.
"We have 16 game left," Pearl said. "We have to get every one we have a chance to get because it is so competitive. And certainly, as it relates to competing for a championship, we can't let there get much distance between us and Tennessee. You need to win some on the road - and if we're going to be able to have the kind of year we want to have - that's why this is a tremendous opportunity for us."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer