Off-court issues stifling Auburn, Alabama resurgence

The year was 2003.

U.S. soldiers captured Saddam Hussein, Funny Cide won the Kentucky Derby – and Auburn and Alabama both reached the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Tigers haven’t made it back since. The Crimson Tide last did in 2012, but they looked poised to bring basketball back in the state in a big way this season.

Auburn returns four starters including super sophomore center Austin Wiley.

Alabama coach Avery Johnson lured in one of nation’s top recruiting classes led by five-star Collin Sexton.

Then the FBI sent off a chain of events with its pay-for-play probe that have turned what was supposed to be a basketball resurgence for both program into a nightmare filled with allegations, firings and suspensions.

More:Bruce Pearl hasn't spoken to FBI or Auburn officials during investigation

The SEC schools play their openers Friday, but what’s happening off the court is drawing far more headlines.  

Three of their best players – Sexton, Wiley and Auburn sophomore forward Danjel Purifoy – are currently ineligible as they’re part of investigations related to the FBI probe.

Alabama is also without its top returning player, Braxton Key, who is out with a knee injury. No timetable has been set on Key’s return, but Alabama got good news regarding Sexton.

The NCAA hadn’t reinstated Sexton's eligibility as former Alabama basketball administrator Kobie Baker, who recruited him, allegedly accepted $15,000 to get players to play basketball at Alabama.

He'll miss Friday's opener against Memphis for violating NCAA rules, but will be eligible for Tuesday's home opener against Lipscomb, the university announced Thursday night.

"We appreciate the NCAA’s efforts to reach a timely resolution of his eligibility” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne in a statement.

Baker, who “resigned” in September, is accused of orchestrating a meeting in Atlanta with financial adviser Marty Blazer, a former NBA official, clothier Rachan Michel and the father of an incoming Tide freshman player.

More:Alabama freshman point guard Collin Sexton not eligible, missed exhibition game

Sexton is the only freshman on Alabama’s roster from the Atlanta area. The 6-foot, 3-inch point guard is from Mableton, Georgia, which is less than 15 miles from Atlanta.

Tell me how Alabama identified Baker within 24 hours of the FBI’s news conference about its investigation, but took weeks to name Sexton as the player Baker recruited?

When Johnson landed Sexton, a projected NBA lottery pick for 2018, there was excitement – and suspicion.

Alabama rarely gets players of that caliber. So why did he choose the Tide?

This situation further feeds into the notion Alabama didn’t get Sexton on the up and up. He's only serving a one-game suspension, but Sexton did violate NCAA rules. 

Not a good look for Alabama, Johnson or Sexton and can anyone safely say nothing else will come out of this? 

Now let's turn to Auburn.

More:Chuck Person terminated by Auburn on Oct. 18, weeks before indictment

ESPN is reporting Bruce Pearl isn’t cooperating with Auburn’s internal investigation and has been advised by university officials his job is in jeopardy if he doesn’t.

Pearl confirmed with the Montgomery Advertiser he hasn’t talked with anyone in Auburn’s athletic department, saying lawyers “are involved.”

This comes off the heels of Chuck Person being indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on all six felony charges as he allegedly received $91,500 in bribery payments in part to steer two unnamed Auburn players to a certain agents and financial advisers.

Wiley and Purifoy, Auburn’s two most talented players, are believed to be “Player 1” and “Player 2” in the federal complaint against Person, who was fired weeks before being indicted.

Wiley and Purifoy are suspended indefinitely and won’t play in Friday against Norfolk State. They sat for Auburn's exhibition game that ended in defeat to Division II Barry.

More:Dead and Barry'd: Auburn suffers embarrassing exhibition loss to D-II school

After the game, Pearl said that very good D-II ball is better than lower D-I. Barry is ranked 12th in the preseason NABC Coaches' poll.

So Auburn has become a low D-I under a coach who was supposed to lead it back to the NCAA Tournament?

Pearl has been publicly acting as if he doesn’t know for certain who “Player 1” and “Player 2” are. Now he hasn’t had any discussions with Auburn President Steven Leath and other university officials on the investigation.

Tell me how this is going to end favorably for Pearl and Auburn basketball?

Person allegedly said on camera to undercover agents he paid $11,000 and $7,500 in bribes to family members of the two Auburn players to steer them toward financial advisers.

More:Six potential candidates for Auburn's next athletic director

This is a big part of the major “controversies” Jay Jacobs spoke of when announcing his resignation as athletic director.

So Person’s gone. Jacobs will be in June 2018. How does Pearl, who was hired by Jacobs and brought in Person, the school’s all-time leading scorer, keep his job if all this holds up?

Tell me how Wiley and Purifoy play one second for Auburn this season, or ever?

What’s worse is that this is going to get worse.