Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy, who are still being held out indefinitely due to their connection to the federal case against former Auburn assistant basketball coach Chuck Person, are expected to remain with the Auburn basketball program through the season.

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said Wiley and Purifoy are enrolled in classes for the winter semester and he expects them to remain with the team regardless of whether they're cleared to play this season or not.

Asked if he still holds out hope that Wiley and Purifoy, who would be starting at center and small forward for No. 22 Auburn (15-1), will play this season, Pearl answered affirmatively.

"I do," he said. "I still know that we're working with the NCAA through that process and I think it's still a possibility."

Following Auburn's win over Ole Miss on Tuesday, Purifoy tweeted he was with the team to support his teammates.

"I'm still here cause I love my brothers," Purifoy tweeted, "and even tho [sic] I'm not playing I'm gone [sic] support them."

According to the federal complaint against Person, he received $91,500 in bribes from a federal cooperating witness, former Pittsburgh-based financial advisor Marty Blazer, whom Person told he gave $11,000 to the mother of "Player-1" and $7,500 to the mother of "Player-2." Co-defendant Rashan Michel claimed to give $5,000 to the mother of "Player-2," according to the complaint.

"Player-2" is believed to be Wiley, who averaged 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 23 games last season, and Purifoy, who averaged 11.5 and 4.7 rebounds last season, is believed to be "Player-1."

"Our thing with those guys is really just the pain that they themselves aren't able to be out there," Pearl said. "Our hearts and minds are more broken for Austin and for Danjel that part of their joy -- they're not able to play, at least at this point."

Pearl said he has "no update" on the status of support staffers Jordan VerHulst, the special assistant to the head coach, and video coordinator Frankie Sullivan, who were placed on administrative leave on Nov. 13.

Auburn, which has won 13 straight, travels to Mississippi State (13-3, 1-2 SEC) on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, SEC Network).

James Crepea is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @JamesCrepea.