Bruce Pearl Jokes About Coaching Rumors After Auburn’s Historic Win at Rupp Arena
The No. 1 Auburn Tigers secured the SEC regular-season championship in dominant fashion, defeating No. 17 Kentucky 94-78 on Saturday. The victory was particularly significant as it marked Auburn’s first win at Rupp Arena since 1988, a venue that has long been a stumbling block for the Tigers and their head coach, Bruce Pearl.
Pearl, who has struggled to win in Lexington throughout his coaching career, acknowledged the significance of the win and even had a joke prepared in case his team lost.
> “My line was going to be, every now and then when y’all have a coaching change, my name comes up—‘Why in the world would you ever want me to be your coach when I can’t win in Rupp?’ That was gonna be my line,” Pearl said with a laugh.
Despite Auburn’s struggles in Lexington over the years, Pearl emphasized his deep respect for Kentucky basketball and its passionate fanbase.
> “Having coached Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana, having coached in Division 2 for a long time, y’all remember what great basketball there is in the state of Kentucky and the state of Indiana, and how much y’all love high school basketball,” Pearl said. “But you also love your Division 2 basketball, because y’all respect the game so much. There are no more knowledgeable fans anywhere in the country than right here in Kentucky.”
Pearl reflected on past challenges his teams have faced at Rupp Arena, noting that even when he brought talented squads to Lexington, they often struggled against the Wildcats.
> “There have been times I’ve brought really good teams in here and we’ve gotten spanked,” he admitted.
Auburn’s Rise While Kentucky Struggles
Auburn entered the game as the No. 1 team in the nation and played like it, dominating from start to finish. Meanwhile, Kentucky, traditionally the SEC’s flagship basketball program, has not been at its best this season. The Wildcats, once a powerhouse, now find themselves tied for eighth place in the conference with an 8-8 record.
Despite Kentucky’s struggles, Pearl made it clear that he still has immense respect for the program and what it represents.
> “So I want to bring a team in here and I want to play basketball. I want to honor the game whether we were going to lose or win,” Pearl said. “We’ve played well a couple of times and gotten beat, but this is obviously historic.”
Auburn Makes History at Rupp Arena
Auburn’s win at Rupp Arena was a long time coming. The Tigers had lost 31 of their previous 33 games in Lexington, making Saturday’s victory all the more meaningful.
> “Two wins and 31 losses in 33 tries,” Pearl said, acknowledging Auburn’s dismal record at Rupp. “And for this one to be for a championship, it’s what we do it for—to make history.”
With this victory, Auburn secured its fifth conference title (either regular-season or tournament) in the last eight years, further cementing Pearl’s legacy as one of the most successful coaches in program history.
Pearl Eyes Bigger Goals
Bruce Pearl, who turns 65 this month, has now spent over a decade at Auburn, transforming the program into a consistent SEC contender. However, despite Auburn’s dominance in the conference, success in the NCAA Tournament has been harder to come by.
Pearl’s 2019 squad made a memorable run to the Final Four, but in his other NCAA Tournament appearances at Auburn, the Tigers have failed to advance past the second round.
This year’s team, however, is different. Pearl believes it is his best squad yet. Now that he has finally conquered Rupp Arena, he has his sights set on an even bigger goal—winning a national championship.
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