Saturday night, the Auburn Tigers' basketball team lost its fourth game in a row on the road against the Arkansas Razorbacks, and it was without the participation of their top scorer.
Keyshawn Hall—who is averaging 20.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists—sat out of Saturday night's contest due to a coach's decision. Head coach Steven Pearl confirmed it was a disciplinary measure, and it's not the first time this season Pearl has had to sit a player.
Tahaad Pettiford was removed from the starting rotation for Auburn's first two SEC matchups for failing to meet program expectations, and Kaden Magwood was suspended and has not seen game action for over a month. Pearl said the length of Hall's suspension will be up to Hall.
"We've got to stop having distractions for the next month," Pearl said on Auburn's postgame radio, per Auburn Undercover. "I can't keep having to be in these situations where I have to sit players in order to discipline them and make a point."
Pearl sent out a plea for his team to ignore the distractions and outside noise to come together as one team for the rest of the season.
"We have a six-game stretch coming up that we've got to find a way to come together as a team, we've got to put all of our BS aside, anything that's coming in between this team, and just come as one," Pearl said. "Because here's the deal: It's KeShawn Murphy's last opportunity to go win an NCAA tournament game. It's Keyshawn Hall's last opportunity to ever be in the tournament. We've got to do this for them, and I think that's a common goal that we have, and something that our guys, I think, use as motivation.Â
"We've just got to stop with the distractions. We've got to be focused on basketball, and focused on getting better, and if we can do those things, this team's got a chance."
The Tigers return to action this Wednesday on the road against Mississippi State.