Report: Auburn will start Chad Baker-Mazara after 'symbolic move' to bring off bench

Auburn star Chad Baker-Mazara will start for the Tigers against Tennessee in the SEC Tournament semifinals. Head coach Bruce Pearl revealed the move Saturday after Baker-Mazara came off the bench Friday.

Pearl said, via ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the move was “symbolic,” referring to Baker-Mazara coming off the bench. But now he’s full go for the semifinals against the Vols.

A loss to Alabama on Senior Day was highlighted by Baker-Mazara being ejected from the game for elbowing Chris Youngblood and receiving a Flagrant 2 foul. Since then, Baker-Mazara has been the biggest talking point of SEC regular season champions.

“Don’t you think my conversations with him should be my conversations with him? Regardless of if it’s a retaliation…it’s unacceptable. But I’m not going to talk to you about my conversations with all my players,” Pearl said earlier this week

For the second consecutive March, Baker-Mazara has been ejected from a massive game. Last season’s NCAA Tournament first-round game against Yale saw him commit a Flagrant 2 foul, having to leave just three minutes into the game. Auburn went on to lose the game and end what was thought to be a potential deep run.

If there is any silver lining about Saturday’s situation, it’s the timing of the game. Auburn was never going to see their season end against Alabama as it was the regular season finale. There is still an SEC and NCAA Tournament to play, one the Tigers plan to play with the intent of winning.

Auburn legend Charles Barkley was the latest to provide Baker-Mazara with some advice, using the wise words of Nick Saban. The former Alabama head coach is someone Barkley has openly admired throughout his career despite the two schools not liking each other.

“Chad has got to be really careful with his emotions,” Barkley said. “Nick Saban, the greatest coach in college football history says ‘I want you to play with emotion. But don’t be emotional.’ I asked him about that one time and if you go back, he says especially in big games when you’re really excited, all the TV networks are there, the fans are going crazy. Because one emotional decision gets you tossed from the game or gets you a penalty. Playing with emotion and being emotional are two different things.”

Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report