'We really, really, really stepped it up' in the second half: Bruce Pearl reacts to No. 2 Auburn's win at South Carolina

Winning championships matters, so does winning lots of games, and winning big games, but Bruce Pearl said after No. 2 Auburn's 66-63 win at South Carolina that being ranked No. 1 matters as well. "It matters because it's history," Pearl said. "I'd rather be number one at the end of the year, but we'll take it. We'll take it when we can get it." With Tennessee's loss on Tuesday, and the Tigers two road wins this week, moving to 15-1 on the season, Auburn is in prime position to be ranked No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches polls come Monday. It wasn't pretty, but Auburn survived on Saturday, overcoming a six-point deficit and an injury to All-American Johni Broome, to beat South Carolina by three after two late free throws by Tahaad Pettiford. More from Pearl inside.