Bruce Pearl responds to best 15-game SEC start in Auburn history: 'They don't play 15, they play 18'

Auburn‘s unprecedented 14-1 start to SEC play has catapulted the Tigers head and shoulders above the rest of the field heading into March’s NCAA Tournament.

With three games left to play in the regular season, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl isn’t satisfied with their record to this point. With each of those games coming against ranked opponents, the Tigers’ historic start could fall apart as they haven’t secured the regular season SEC championship just yet.

Pearl clapped back when finding out this season has produced the best start to SEC play in program history.

“So, this is the best 15-game start? And that’s for Auburn? OK. But they don’t play 15. They play 18,” Pearl said. “Come seek me out after the 18th game.”

Pearl’s comments came following Auburn’s 106-76 win over Ole Miss at home on Wednesday night.

Tigers superstar Johni Broome scored 24 points and logged nine rebounds during the matchup. Chad Baker-Mazara scored 22 on 4 of 5 shooting beyond the arc as well. Miles Kelly, Denver Jones and Chaney Johnson all finished the game with 13 points a piece during the win.

“They were locked in,” Pearl said of his team. “They recognized this was the second-to-last home game in Neville Arena this year. This was the second to last time our fans were going to be able to see them up close and personal, and just enjoy the quality of their play. I think that created a bit of a sense of urgency.”

Auburn won’t be back inside Neville Arena until the season finale against Alabama. While that matchup is highly anticipated, there are a couple of roadblocks left in their way before they host the Crimson Tide.

Next up for the Tigers is a road trip to Kentucky on Saturday, a team which Bruce Pearl has a 6-9 record against since becoming Auburn’s head coach. However, he’s never beaten the Wildcats inside Rupp Arena. In fact, the last time Auburn beat the Wildcats in Lexington was in 1988.

Whether they’re able to snap the 27-year dry spell against the Wildcats remains to be seen. Regardless of the outcome, Auburn will have its hands full on the road at Texas A&M the following Tuesday. While the Aggies have lost three-straight games heading into the weekend, College Station isn’t an easy place to play.

All of this leads up to the regular season finale against Alamaba inside Neville Arena on March 8.