As anticipation builds for the upcoming top-10 showdown between the Auburn Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers, Auburn’s head coach, Bruce Pearl, shared his insights and reflections during a recent press conference.Pearl, who has the unique distinction of having coached both programs, offered a comprehensive preview of the matchup, highlighting the strengths of the Tennessee team, the status of key Auburn players, and the significance of the game within the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Pearl began by acknowledging the sustained excellence of both programs over the past eight years.He stated, “These two teams, Tennessee and Auburn, have been the best two teams in the SEC, at least by winning percentage over the last eight years.”Expressing pride in his contributions to both institutions, Pearl added, “I’m proud to be a part of that, and even in some smaller, lesser way, also proud that I was at both Tennessee and helped get that thing going a little bit, and now here at Auburn.”
Turning his attention to the Volunteers, Pearl expressed deep respect for Tennessee’s head coach, Rick Barnes, and his coaching staff.He praised their defensive prowess, noting, “They play as good a defense as anybody in the country. Their field-goal percentage defense, their three-point defense, they’re one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country, and they really shoot it really well from three.”Pearl emphasized the challenge ahead, stating that only four teams had scored 70 points or more against Tennessee all season, underscoring their defensive tenacity.
Given his history with both programs, Pearl acknowledged the unique challenge of coaching against a familiar opponent.He remarked, “Well, it doesn’t actually make it much fun at all because they know us so well and it’s hard to run what you do. Like Coach Barnes, we are who we are, and what we’ve been doing, we’ve been doing it this way for a long, long time.”Despite the personal connections, Pearl made it clear that his focus remains on the competitive aspect, stating, “I want to beat Tennessee because they’re one of the best teams in our league, and a team that we need to beat to be able to have a chance to be a champion, but not for any other reason.”
A significant point of discussion was the status of Auburn’s star forward, Johni Broome, who had been sidelined due to a left ankle sprain.Pearl provided an update, saying, “Well, right now, we’ll practice this afternoon and there’s a possibility he’ll try and practice, but we’re not sure.”He emphasized the importance of other players stepping up in Broome’s absence, highlighting the team’s depth and resilience.Pearl noted, “Everybody has had to step up. I think last week, without the player of the year and our best player — or player of the year candidate — to beat two teams that are nationally ranked, and to go beat at Georgia at Georgia who had won 13 in a row at home. Road wins are really hard to get in our league. To be able to do that without our best player does speak to the depth and the balance of our team.
Pearl identified Tennessee’s point guard, Zakai Zeigler, as a pivotal player to watch. He described Zeigler as “one of the leading assist guys in the country and he’s a brilliant passer.”Pearl also highlighted Zeigler’s defensive capabilities, mentioning that he had already set the all-time record for Tennessee in steals.He emphasized the challenge Zeigler presents, stating, “In many ways, they go as he goes and he always goes pretty well. He’s a great three-point shooter with a great percentage and he’s hard to stay in front of.”Pearl concluded by acknowledging Zeigler’s legacy, saying, “He will go down as one of the all-time greats in the history of Tennessee basketball.”
The upcoming game also holds special significance as it coincides with Auburn’s annual AUTLIVE game, an initiative aimed at raising cancer awareness.Pearl highlighted the importance of this cause, stating, “First of all, it’s our AUTLIVE game, and that’s Auburn basketball’s fight against cancer. It’s an awareness campaign.”
Additionally, the presence of ESPN’s College GameDay adds to the game’s prominence.Pearl proudly noted, “We’re the only school in the country that can say — at least at this point — that College GameDay has been on our campus five years in a row in college basketball.”He attributed this recognition to the passionate support of the Auburn family, emphasizing the unparalleled home-court advantage at Neville Arena.
As the Auburn Tigers prepare to host the Tennessee Volunteers, the stage is set for a thrilling encounter between two of the SEC’s premier programs.With both teams boasting impressive records and a history of excellence, fans can anticipate a game that showcases the best of college basketball. Pearl’s insights underscore the respect and rivalry that define this matchup, promising an exciting contest on Saturday night.
For a more in-depth perspective, you can watch Bruce Pearl’s full press conference here