AUBURN, Alabama -- Bruce Pearl brought plenty of enthusiasm and excitement to Auburn's basketball program when he was hired in March.
Now he's tasked with turning around a program that hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 2003, the longest drought in the SEC.
Pearl, who is set to host the annual Auburn Basketball Lettermen Reunion tonight, admits a healing process must be endured before the team can have success on the court. He sees the reunion as an opportunity to begin the revitalization and said the support from former players and coaches has been "unbelievable."
Bruce Pearl was hired by Auburn in March. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
"I think they're going to have more lettermen here than they've ever had," he said. "It's not about a football game or a basketball game, it's just an invitation to heal and come together as Auburn family."
Former head coaches Sonny Smith and Cliff Ellis are scheduled to attend the reunion along with former players Charles Barkley, Chuck Person, Marquis Daniels, John Mengelt, Chris Morris, Rex Frederick and many others.
Pearl has made a point to introduce his current players to the past stars.
"I want my players to see some of the names and faces and past champions and the great coaches," Pearl said. "I just want them to know that Auburn has a great history and tradition in basketball, just not in the last 10 or 11 years.
"It's like any family. We can choose to be close or we can choose to be distant. It's like a friendship -- you have to work at it. I'm the new coach and I have to make sure this place is available to them and they're welcome here. I need them to be involved in our program."
Auburn is coming off a rocky season that ended with the Tigers stumbling down the stretch to a 14-16 (6-12 SEC) mark. Despite losing scoring stars Chris Denson, Allen Payne and Asaun Dixon-Tatum, there are bright spots in the incoming class.
Cinmeon Bowers of Chipola College is ranked as the nation's top JUCO prospect by the 247Sports Composite. (247Sports)
Power forward Cinmeon Bowers, who is ranked as the nation's No. 1 junior college prospect by 247Sports, took part in his first practice Friday.
The 6-foot-7, 261-pounder is expected to be a force in the paint this season.
"It'll be good to have his big a** in there," Pearl said. "I just hope Coach (Gus) Malzahn doesn't come over and watch practice because he's got a future on the left side of the ball. He's a big boy, but he can move. He can create off the bounce, he can make plays.
"We lost three seniors that played a lot of basketball last year and we brought in three or four guys who have a chance to play. That was simply required. How much progress we can make is going to be based on how much the returning players improve."
Pearl is also putting the finishing touches on an early non-conference schedule he hopes will prepare the team for SEC play.
"We've got one game left and the schedule's going to be tough," he said. "I can tell you right now we have three on the road, at least two or three neutral site games, a couple good home opponents. It's OK, it's where we need to be."
Stay tuned to AL.com for more coverage of the Auburn Basketball Lettermen Reunion.