An ESPN journalist, Myron Medcalf, recently attended an Auburn basketball practice and shared a fascinating account of what it’s like when Bruce Pearl’s team kicks into high gear. Medcalf described a scene where the team transforms from a joking, happy-go-lucky group to a focused and intense unit once practice begins.
According to Medcalf, the practice started with a lighthearted atmosphere, with players joking and laughing, particularly Chad Baker-Mazara, the team’s resident class clown. However, once Pearl blew his whistle, the mood shifted, and the team began to compete with the same intensity that has characterized their dominant season.
Baker-Mazara explained that the team has a pact to maintain a serious attitude during practice, despite their playful nature outside of the court. “We goof around with each other at all times,” he said. “But we made a pact this summer that whenever we come in here and [Pearl] says his first words, that’s it.”
The intensity of Auburn’s practices will be crucial as they head into March Madness. With a fourth straight exit before the second weekend looming as a possibility, the Tigers must maintain their focus and intensity to achieve their goals.
