The transfer portal has brought plenty of change to college sports, and basketball is no different.

One adjustment for players and coaches alike is the timing of when teams start building their rosters. Players began officially entering the portal on Monday, despite the NCAA tournament still going on for two more weeks.

Auburn is one of the handful of teams that now has to balance trying to finish the season and compete for a national championship while roster building for the 2025-2026 season is already taking shape.

However, for head coach Bruce Pearl, his focus is still the same.

“I’m not spending any time on it,“ Pearl said. ”I’ve made a couple calls, but not many, just to reach out. We’ve got a big staff, so our guys are just letting the potential prospects know that we’ve got work to do. Hopefully we’re working for a couple weeks. But when our season is over, we’ll begin to put that roster together next year.”

Auburn hasn’t had any of its current players enter the portal yet, but the Tigers will still look to replace multiple departing players this offseason.

For other teams still in the Sweet 16, the issue is already hitting home. Michigan guard Justin Pippen was one of the first players to enter the portal this week, despite his team having a date with Auburn in the Sweet 16 Friday night.

While he hasn’t played since Michigan’s regular season finale on March 9, it’s still a loss of a scholarship player while the season is ongoing.

“Obviously there was news last week about players on our team entering the portal. Times are changing now,” said Michigan forward Danny Wolf. “College basketball is just going to such a unique and different place than what anyone is used to.”

Pearl also said he’s “not a big fan of this transfer every year.”

“We’re teaching the kids to flee, not fight. I think the one-time transfer is great. I think the grad transfer is great,” Pearl said. “I don’t make the rules, but I’ve got to play by them.”

Pearl’s comments come after Michigan State coach Tom Izzo had a lengthy rant earlier in the week about the portal window intersecting with the final rounds of the NCAA tournament.

“I loved Tom Izzo’s response. I loved it. It was authentic. It was real,” Pearl said. “He is laser focused right now on trying to give his team the best chance they possibly can to advance to the Final Four. I get it completely.”

Both Izzo and Pearl’s teams will play in the Sweet 16 Friday night, and wins could set up a matchup between Michigan State and Auburn in the Elite Eight.

Auburn will play its Sweet 16 game against Michigan, with tipoff set for 8:39 p.m. The game will be televised on CBS.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m