Offseason Observations: A new normal for basketball and a needed newcomer in football

Bruce Pearl is "very happy" with his reloaded roster — and another big name could be added — while Bryan Harsin has landed a pickup at a position of need.

I’m experimenting with a new newsletter format today. It’s actually an old style — and what most people would probably think of when they read a newsletter. But I wanted to find a way to tackle a few topics for both sports in written form, like we do in the weekend podcasts. If you like this format, let me know! If you don’t like it… well, let me know. I'm an adult, I can handle it.

(Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics)

For the first time since 2019, Auburn basketball was able to host its annual banquet on Wednesday night. (Local beat writers were invited to attend, which was a very kind gesture from the program.) The event was a celebration of the Tigers’ historic 2021-22 season, with the outright SEC championship trophy front and center on the stage in Neville Arena.

In the midst of the constant stream of stats, accolades and accomplishments rattled off by the award presenters, it felt like there was a common theme — this is what Auburn basketball is now, and it’s not planning on changing a…