The debut of Auburn’s 2017 basketball team was largely overshadowed by the coming iteration of The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. Despite the amount of traffic on the Plains for the coming game, Auburn Arena was far from full when the Tigers took the hardwood Saturday against Norfolk State.
It’s hard to blame fans, especially in the wake of the FBI investigation that cost Chuck Person his job and two of Auburn’s best player’s their eligibility. In addition many believe, in one way or another, the pay-for-play scandal would eventually cost head coach Bruce Pearl his job.
Even if Pearl should escape the scandal, there remains the possibility that another lackluster season would likely end Pearl’s tenure.