Bruce Pearl and Co. prep for Missouri, SEC play: 'It's going to be a battle of attrition'

AUBURN -- "The numbers speak for themselves," Bruce Pearl said as he started his Friday press conference ahead of No. 2 Auburn (12-1) hosting Missouri to start SEC play on Saturday inside Neville Arena. "All 16 SEC teams have performed tremendously in this non-conference. All 16 teams have double-digit wins and we have three teams that are the only three teams in America that are undefeated still, and that's Oklahoma, Florida and Tennessee," Pearl said. "We head into this start of conference play and it's going to be a battle of attrition." The SEC already has 21 Top-15 wins and 47 Quad I and II wins. The league is on pace to place double-digit teams in the NCAA Tournament, and the only three undefeated teams in college basketball reside in the SEC with Tennessee, Florida and Oklahoma. More inside from Pearl on hosting Missouri, the importance of the Tigers' bench, and surviving SEC play.