Blake Muschalek has earned everything he has received at Auburn through hard work and a never-give-up attitude. The Dallas, Texas native has worked himself up from the scout team during the 2024-25 season, when he and other reserves helped the SEC champion and Final Four-bound Tigers prepare for their next opponent, to receiving regular playing time as a junior in 2025-26.
Now, with his senior season approaching, Muschalek has to win even more playing time by doing one thing: hitting shots.
Black Muschalek has to improve his shooting to get more playing time
“Blake’s (role) will be what he makes it to be,” Auburn head coach Steven Pearl said at the Jimmy Rane Charity Event. “I told him last year that if he could have made an open 3-pointer, he would’ve played a lot more. It’s not a knock on him because he was totally accountable for it. If Blake can shoot 33% from the floor, he will be a guy I trust to have out there.”
It’s not like Auburn’s guard rotation is deep, with Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton returning and George Kimble III, a point guard, arriving via transfer portal from Vanderbilt. But for Muschalek to earn more than 5.5 minutes per game this upcoming season, his shot needs to start going in.
Last year, Muschalek finished with a 19 percent field goal percentage, including 14.3 percent from the three-point line. The one thing he does well, though, as Pearl points out, is not commit unforced errors when on the floor, averaging just 0.1 turnovers per game. And, for Pearl and his staff, the 6-foot-3 guard is a good asset in the locker room.
“Blake guards, doesn’t make mistakes and impacts winning in a really big way,” Pearl said. “He’s just got to be a threat offensively and be able to make open shots. He’s one of our hardest workers, and he’s great for the culture of our program.”
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