Bruce Pearl accomplished almost everything during his long tenure at Auburn, taking the Tigers to places he never imagined. The head coach has built the program into a formidable force, with SEC titles in both the regular season and tournaments to go along with NCAA Tournament appearances on a regular basis. The 2019 run to the Final Four was a moment every Auburn fan will remember.

The only thing left to come is the coveted national title, something that seemed like a thing of the future long ago but has now become a reality. As the Tigers open the 2024-25 season, Pearl has never been better positioned to bring home this trophy.

Sure, the 2021-22 Auburn team had two future NBA stars on the team and easily won the SEC regular-season title, but it also had issues at the back – smaller guards who relied on two or three guys . This was evident in the clear elimination from the SEC tournament and the loss to a top-ranked Miami team in the second round of the NCAAs.

Last year, after the Tigers captured an SEC tournament title, the problems the Tigers had had for most of the season, particularly point guard play, reared their ugly head and resulted in a surprising loss to Yale. Another chance at the Natty was lost within 40 minutes.

This year's squad? Well, we don't know how they'll fare on the field, but all the pieces are there and it's Auburn's best shot at the title. Johni Broome is a true All-American who can control the inside while gliding to the outside and showcasing his outside versatility. In Miles Kelly and JP Pegues came experienced guards and, just as importantly, tall and long guards who joined Denver Jones and are looking for an even better season than last.

Chad Baker-Mazara and Chaney Johnson are players who can take over a game at any time. Don't forget Ja'Heim Hudson, the transfer from SMU who could see good minutes.

Talented freshmen Tahaad Pettiford and Jahki Howard won't be counted on as much as some first-year players in the past, but they add an extra touch to this already talented roster.

And then there are Chris Moore and Dylan Cardwell, the heart and soul of this team, whose impact may not be reflected in the box score but is just as important as anything this team does on the field.

When you add it up, it's a combination of nine seniors, fifth-year players or graduate students who will be big contributors to this team.

This is a roster built for a brutal non-conference schedule that can compete with any other program in college basketball. This is a team that could potentially struggle early but refuses to let its spirit be broken, learning valuable lessons along the way as the march continues toward, well, March. And that's exactly what Pearl wanted for this program, its fans and a chance to potentially win the program's first national title.

And the coach can rely on countless formations to get the job done. Do you need Jones at this point? Fine. Play Broome and Cardwell at the same time to intimidate anyone who comes into the alley? He can do that.

Now the Tigers have to go out and live up to the expectations they face at the start of the season. The window for Pearl to realize his dream is closing faster as he gets older, and it seems this is his best chance.

Now is the time for Pearl.