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Bruce Pearl was in Nashville to watch Auburn’s SEC Tournament matchup against Tennessee on Thursday night. He crashed out seeing the Tigers blow a double-digit lead.
Steven Pearl followed suit, landing a technical foul in the second half of action. He buckled with a potential March Madness bid on the line.
Auburn entered the SEC Tournament firmly on the Big Dance bubble. At 16-15, the margins for error were slim, though strong wins and a top-ranked strength of schedule kept them in the conversation.
The Tigers got a resume boost in Round 1, dispatching Mississippi State in an 18-point victory. A win over the Vols would’ve gotten them one more step closer to the postseason.
Auburn collapsed.
The Tigers controlled the first half, leading by as many as 11. They carried that double-digit advantage through the 10-minute mark of the second half.
Then, the offense hit a wall.
Auburn took a 51-41 lead with 10:26 left to play. Tennessee went on a 20-0 run to turn the 10-point deficit into a 10-point lead.
Both Pearls were beside themselves.
“Do you think people should earn jobs based on merit and not their last name?”
Steven Pearl: pic.twitter.com/9yeUEfsQOu
— Chris Marler (@Vern_Funquist) March 12, 2026
Auburn had no answers for the Vols. Steven Pearl made things worse by picking up a technical foul late. The Tigers would eventually fall, 72-62.
Pearl’s dad was even more upset.
Bruce Pearl crashed out.
Bruce Pearl was NOT HAPPY with someone at today’s SEC tournament game with his son at the helm of the tigers.
“Thats bullsh**”
Who do you think it was? pic.twitter.com/yoF7AtwM5f
— Random SEC (@therandomsec) March 12, 2026
At one point in the game, presumably during Auburn’s scoreless stretch, the former coach berated someone from the stands. Most believe it was an official.
His postgame social media activity would further suggest that assumption.
There’s Rim Protection and there’s what’s been allowed to happen in the last 10 minutes.
— Bruce Pearl (@coachbrucepearl) March 12, 2026
Bruce Pearl has been vocal about Auburn’s NCAA Tournament inclusion. He believes they are more deserving than previously undefeated Miami (OH).
Both teams entered Thursday night on the bubble. Miami lost earlier in the day to put postseason chances at risk. Auburn might’ve been able to burst the RedHawks’ bubble with a win.
Instead, it seems it’s the Tigers’ season which could come to a close.