After both the Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks lost in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, local fans may be wondering which faith-driven team to cheer for in this weekend’s Final Four. Coach Bruce Pearl makes a strong case for the Auburn Tigers.
“This is a team of faith,” he said, according to “Crosswalk.” “We work really hard at trying to bring in those kind of people — guys that are going to make sacrifices. You want to be in a great team, you got to make sacrifices. You got to share. You got to hold each other accountable. And I think that’s also a big part of what this locker room is all about.”
Pearl, who is Jewish, promotes spiritual development in the basketball program.
“As I’ve gotten older and grown and matured, I think it’s really difficult to navigate the world without having a relationship with the Lord,” he said. “And that’s why I want to speak about it and encourage players and help them find out a way to nurture it and navigate through life.”
The team holds mandatory 9 a.m. team breakfasts that include Bible studies. Senior forward Chaney Johnson said the studies have played a significant role in drawing closer to the Lord.
“As young men, it’s always preached to hide your emotions and keep everything inside,” he said, “but with the Bible studies, we’re learning about God as well as how to be a better Christian, as well as being able to sharpen each other through stories and the experiences we’re going through. We better ourselves through the word and with God.”
Johnson credits both Coach Pearl, who was recently named co-Coach of the Year, and team chaplain Jeremy Napier.
“I don’t think I can put it into words how big of an impact he’s had on this team,” he said. “He’s bringing a lot of guys to Christ in a very ethical manner, slowly but surely. A lot of the players on this team believe in Christ, but Jeremy pushes us to believe a little bit harder. He’s honestly made my love for Christ a lot stronger. I was always a strong believer, but to be able to have him pour into me from his stories and his life experiences, it really helped me build my strength for the love of God.”
Auburn will face the Florida Gators on Saturday afternoon in what promises to be an intense Final Four matchup at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
