If you look through the box score of Auburn basketball’s 22-point win over Arkansas, Blake Muschalek’s stat line probably won’t be the first thing you notice.
It likely won’t be the second or third thing either.
But despite only playing 10 minutes and scoring five points, his play earned praise from head coach Steven Pearl.
“Really happy for Blake,” Pearl said after the game. “Blake is a guy that, in practice, is one of our best players. And people on Twitter can go crazy when he gets in the games. But like, if you come to practice, and some of you do, you watch how he is in practice, he’s our best defender.”
Pearl has complimented Muschalek’s defense since the start of the season, but he had to be more than just a perimeter defender against Arkansas. With backup point guard Kaden Magwood not playing, Muschalek spent most of his minutes on Saturday conducting Auburn’s offense when Tahaad Pettiford needed a break.
He didn’t turn the ball over during his time on the floor and kept the Tigers’ offense running. He even knocked down a 3-pointer, which drew one of the loudest reactions of the game from the Neville Arena crowd.
AUBURN, AL – JANUARY 10 – Auburns Blake Muschalek (21) during the game between the Auburn Tigers and the #15 Arkansas Razorbacks at Neville Arena in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.
Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn TigersZach Bland/Auburn Tigers
“I loved it,” Muschalek said when asked about playing point guard. “In high school, I always played point guard, and I love playing against athletic big dudes. I don’t really think about it when I’m on the court.
“It’s just like I’m playing basketball. It’s not really a matchup thing for me. It’s kind of just going out there and playing, wanting to win.”
Muschalek started his Auburn career as a walk-on and now in his junior season, still doesn’t play consistently. However, his minutes have increased this season, and Saturday was his second career game with 10 or more minutes.
For most of his career, Muschalek knocking down a 3 and drawing a roar from the crowd typically came in a blowout when four other reserves were on the court with him. On Saturday, the moment had a more tangible impact on the game.
“I mean, it was awesome,” Muschalek said. “Kind of felt like I was playing normal basketball again, not running around trying not to mess up.”
Pearl was asked on Tuesday what Muschalek can do to continue getting on the floor for Auburn and his requests for the junior guard were relatively simple.
“If he can continue to guard like he always does. He’s got to cut down on his fouls a little bit, so defensively, just being able to give us a boost off the bench,” Pearl said. “And then, for him offensively, I’m like, ‘I don’t need you to do anything but just get us into our offense. And if your man’s pressed up into you, just do what you do in practice, and just drive by him.’
“Just got to avoid live-ball turnovers and get us into what we do, and he did a great job of all those things against Arkansas.”
After beating Arkansas to get its first SEC win of the season, Auburn’s next challenge is a road game against Missouri. On paper, the black and gold Tigers aren’t as strong as the Razorbacks, but they rank in the top 50 of KenPom’s offensive efficiency rankings.
It could be another game that calls for Muschalek’s presence on defense, but if Magwood remains on the bench, he’ll be needed again as a backup point guard.
Saturday’s performance against Arkansas was a way for him to prove that he can play that role.
