Only one Auburn basketball player involved in fight on team flight has returned to the court

As AL.com's Jerry Humphrey III notes, only one player, Ja'Heim Hudson, has returned to the floor after being involved in the Auburn basketball team's on-flight fight that resulted in two suspended players.

"After serving a three-game suspension for his role in the physical altercation during a team flight, Ja’Heim Hudson saw action against Iowa State. Hudson played four minutes in the first half finishing with a rebound and an assist. Jahki Howard who was also suspended, saw no playing time for the third straight game. He has not seen action since the season-opener," Humphrey relayed.

Auburn has not been beaten this year even with the "Plane Gate" controversy. At this point, Bruce Pearl should be lauded for how he's handled the locker room. Perhaps the team is rallying around his response to Jahki Howard's public display of dissatisfaction during the team's season-opening blowout win over Vermont. Howard didn't look like a team player at that moment and despite his elite pedigree before reaching the Plains, untoward behavior will keep you on Pearl's bench.

With UNC and Duke next on the schedule, and dates with Ohio State and Purdue left in non-conference play, the Tigers have a chance to emerge as the clear-cut best team in the country. Wins over Houston and Iowa State already have them looking like the class of Division I hoops.

If Pearl can parlay another successful regular season into a deep March Madness run, he'll help fill the void left by the recent retirements of Tony Bennett, Jay Wright, Roy Williams, and Coach K.

Especially if deep runs in March and April can become commonplace on the Plains.