Contrary to an implication in a report by CBS, Bruce Pearl said there's been "no real change" to his level of cooperation with Auburn's internal investigation into the basketball program.

On Wednesday, CBS reported Pearl and his lawyer "have made themselves of service to Auburn's investigation," which like an ESPN report last month stating Pearl was not cooperating with the school's investigation, is not entirely accurate. There has been dialogue between Pearl and school officials for months, but he still has not sat for a formal interview with lawyers from Lightfoot, Franklin & White, the Birmingham-based law firm assisting the school with the investigation.

"There have been no substantive changes," Pearl said. "I think from a national media's perspective, obviously it had been reported and I had really never commented on what levels of cooperation were existing, but we have been working really hard together through the process. There are obviously certain aspects of the investigation that are very private and we're keeping them that way, but there's been no real change."

Pearl again took responsibility as the leader of the program for the allegations made in the federal case against former assistant coach Chuck Person, saying it has put Auburn and school president Steven Leath in a "tough spot." Last month, Leath emailed several fans regarding Pearl, whose "unwillingness to even talk" to him was "troublesome."

There has been no public comments from Leath or university officials since and a school spokesman did not respond to a request for clarification about Pearl's cooperation with the investigation.

"I think they've handled things as fairly as they can," Pearl said, "but there really is no change."

Pearl has cooperated with the school's attempts to certify the eligibility of Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy, who remain out indefinitely due to their connection with the federal complaint against Person.

With Auburn (10-1) having two non-conference games remaining and the fall semester completed, it's unclear if Wiley and Purifoy, neither of whom have been available for interviews or addressed the allegations of their mothers receiving money from Person publicly, will look to leave Auburn to pursue professional opportunities.

"I'm sure the longer this goes, I think decisions are going to be made on both sides of that," Pearl said. "But there really is no change in their status right now. ... I think what we'll try to always do what's best for them in these cases. Right now we are going through process of trying to certify their eligibility."

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