The Auburn men's basketball team's schedule kicks off at home on November 7th against West Alabama.
In an attempt to garner hype for a season that some have said will be the start of a new era in Auburn Basketball, the basketball staff decided to open practice to students and fans for a night dubbed "The Pearl Jam."
Thousands of students piled into the stadium to see the new players head basketball coach Bruce Pearl has assembled, but many of the students I talked to were waiting to see the coach himself.
"I'm excited, mainly to see the passion that Bruce Pearl will bring to the program," junior Jonathan Burson said.
Pearl's enthusiasm was apparent as he came out dressed up as head football coach Gus Malzahn and announced to the crowd that all season tickets have been sold for the upcoming season.
Coach Pearl also made it a point to let the students know that the team would need them this season.
"Together," Pearl said, "I think that we have the opportunity to become relevant in the world of college basketball right away."
In addition to letting the students see the new team, the event was used to teach new cheers for the student section. Pearl even renamed the Auburn student section after a short hype video, dubbing it "The Jungle."
"The university is committed and we are committed to making you guys the best student section in the nation," Pearl said.
Pearl did have issue with one cheer that attempted to use phone alarms to annoy the other team.
"I don't think we will do that one," said Pearl jokingly, "It may be against NCAA rules, and you know how careful I am about NCAA rules."
At the end of the event, and before Pearl gathered the team and students onto the floor for a picture, the new coach spoke about his expectations for the team and where he would like to be at the end of the season.
"I believe with all my heart that Auburn basketball can be one of the top five programs in the SEC every single year, and together we are going to do that," Pearl said.
After the event, one student shared with me his thoughts on the upcoming season.
"The only thing Auburn basketball has been known for is Charles Barkely," senior Eliot Skinner said. "It's about time the basketball program had something else to really get excited about."
With a relatively large turnout tonight, and with their West Alabama exhibition selling out, the basketball program seems to have a good start to the Bruce Pearl era. However, like all other sports, winning will be the only way to sustain the hype.
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