Bruce Pearl comments for first time on Auburn's self-imposed postseason ban, Sharife Cooper's eligibility case

It has been a tough week for coach Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers, and it is only Monday.

First, the Tigers announced a self-imposed postseason ban for this season due to violations from former assistant Chuck Person that came to light in 2017. Then, it was reported that 5-star freshman Sharife Cooper was exploring overseas options as he waits for a decision in his NCAA eligibility case.

On his weekly radio show, Pearl discussed the ban, saying he thinks it’s the right decision:

Auburn men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl's first comments on the postseason ban (on an in-house radio show):

"It was a really difficult decision, but I think it's the right decision. The kids are disappointed, but it's amazing how resilient they are."

— Josh Vitale (@JoshVitale) November 24, 2020

Then, Pearl discussed Cooper’s situation, though he couldn’t offer much of a comment about it:

Bruce Pearl on Sharife Cooper's eligibility: "Sharife's a great kid. His initial eligibility review is ongoing, and we're hopeful for a resolution as soon as possible. There's not much more I can comment on"

— Jordan D. Hill (@JordanDavisHill) November 24, 2020

The Tigers will likely face a bit of a rebuilding year in 2020-21, especially if Cooper doesn’t play. We’ll see what happens with the Auburn program starting this week.