Auburn basketball: Southern Indiana exhibition just means more for Bruce Pearl

Tonight’s Auburn basketball scrimmage against Southern Indiana means a bit more than a preseason contest typically does in sports.

Of course, this will be the first non-intrasquad game in front of a full Auburn Arena in over a year and a half.

But the Tigers’ opponent is one that Bruce Pearl holds near and dear to his heart.

Division II’s University of Southern Indiana was Pearl’s first stop on what would be a long coaching journey. It’s also the only team he’s won an NCAA Championship with.

And he’ll never forget that:

"“No matter what I do in life, I will always be a Screaming Eagle,” said Pearl…"

It was in 1995 that USI cut down the nets, and 26 years later, the Screaming Eagles make way to the Plains for the first time to take on an Auburn basketball team heading into the 2021-22 season ranked #22 in the AP Top 25.

It’ll be a battle between Pearl and his protégé, Stan Gouard, his former star Screaming Eagle who he spoke glowingly of:

"“People ask me who was the best player I’ve ever coached,” Pearl said. “I say it was Stan Gouard. He was the two-time Division II national player of the year.”"

Gouard has not only helped Pearl reach the promise land as a player, but he has also taken it to his former coach head to head as HC, per AL.com’s Tom Green:

"It won’t be the first time Pearl and Gouard have reunited on the court. Gouard’s Indianapolis team defeated Tennessee early in the 2010-11 regular season during Pearl’s last year with the Vols. Then, during Pearl’s second season at Auburn in 2015-16, the Tigers hosted Gouard’s Indianapolis program at Auburn Arena, coming away with an overtime win."

Tonight’s game won’t affect the standings, but it will most certainly feel like a regular season game.

Even though it isn’t an SEC contest, it still just means more for Auburn basketball head coach Bruce Pearl.