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All for Tennessee Official Men’s Basketball SEC Power Rankings for Jan. 23: A Clear Top 2

By Caleb Calhoun

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Jan 21, 2017; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl talks to guard Mustapha Heron (5) during the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Auburn Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl talks to guard Mustapha Heron (5) during the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Auburn Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /

And just like that, it looks like Bruce Pearl’s three years of work with the Auburn Tigers is finally starting to pay off.

If Austin Wiley wasn’t missing games, Danjel Purifoy was. But both were back on the court together Saturday.

Before that, however, they had a break by facing the LSU Tigers and getting a win early in the week to move up the SEC standings after a 1-4 start. Then came their huge game Saturday.

The Tigers finally looked like a Pearl-coached team in the SEC, playing up-tempo all game against the Tide, making sure to shoot it every time they got the ball up the court fast, and forcing 16 turnovers.

The result was an offensive clinic that turned into an Auburn blowout, and they look like they are on track to finally do some special things.

Unlike most Pearl teams, however, the Tigers can’t get too much credit with their 13-6 record because their schedule strength sits at No. 76 right now. That has their RPI all the way down at No. 70, so they have work to do.

The chances come this week with the South Carolina Gamecocks and TCU Horned Frogs, both on the road. And both teams are in the Top 31 of the RPI.

So Pearl really has a chance to take the next step with his Tigers this week.

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