Auburn basketball undergoes a significant leadership change as Bruce Pearl retires and his son, Steven Pearl, is hired as the new head coach, marking a rare father-to-son coaching succession amid ongoing college sports developments.
Bruce Pearl, after 11 seasons as Auburn's head coach and a highly successful tenure, has announced his retirement, with his son Steven Pearl set to succeed him on a five-year deal, ensuring continuity for the program.
Bruce Pearl, the longtime Auburn men's basketball coach, is expected to retire after 11 seasons, with his son Steven Pearl likely to succeed him as head coach. Pearl has a distinguished career with multiple NCAA tournament appearances and accolades, including a recent Final Four appearance in 2025, and will retire with a record of 477-224.
Bruce Pearl, after 11 seasons and a highly successful tenure at Auburn, has announced his retirement, with his son Steven Pearl set to succeed him as head coach. Pearl, a prominent figure in college basketball with a legacy of NCAA tournament appearances and Final Four runs, cited personal reasons for stepping down and expressed confidence in the future of Auburn's program. He also dismissed speculation about a Senate run, reaffirming his commitment to Auburn.
After Tennessee defeated Auburn in a close game, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl praised Tennessee's performance and expressed disappointment in his team's defense. He discussed Dalton Knecht's outstanding performance and the effectiveness of Auburn's Johni Broome. Pearl also commented on the importance of Jaylin Williams' return from injury and shared his approach to voting for the SEC Player of the Year.
Auburn basketball player Johni Broome mistakenly brushed away the hand of actor Morgan Freeman, whom he thought was an Ole Miss fan trying to distract him during a game. Broome later apologized to Freeman, who reassured him and encouraged him to keep playing. Auburn went on to win the game, and Broome found absolution in Freeman's understanding and sportsmanship.
Auburn basketball secured a 66-55 victory over Texas A&M in their first SEC matchup at Neville Arena, extending their double-digit win streak to eight games. The Tigers' dominant defensive performance stifled Texas A&M's Wade Taylor IV, the preseason SEC Player of the Year, holding him to just eight points on 2-for-16 shooting. Despite the Aggies' strong rebounding, Auburn closed the gap and forced 19 turnovers, keeping Texas A&M scoreless from the field for over nine minutes.
Auburn guard Denver Jones had a memorable homecoming game as he played in front of his hometown crowd in Huntsville, Alabama. Jones, a native of New Market, Alabama, received a loud round of applause from the Auburn fans and reminisced about his high school days. Auburn cruised to an 87-62 victory against UNC Asheville in a game that drew over 6,500 fans. Head coach Bruce Pearl expressed his intention to return to Huntsville in the future, acknowledging the strong support for Auburn in the area. Jones scored nine points and played a team-high 23 minutes in the game.
Auburn's basketball team dominated Indiana with a 104-76 blowout win, showcasing their ability to make adjustments and shoot the ball better. The team went on a 42-12 run to close the first half, stifling Indiana's offense and forcing them into a nine-minute scoring drought. Auburn's guards, including Aden Holloway with a career-high 24 points, contributed to the team's strong offensive performance. Jaylin Williams played a crucial role in shutting down Indiana's Kel'el Ware while also leading Auburn in scoring with 24 points. Overall, Auburn's win demonstrated their potential as a formidable team in the NCAA Tournament.
Auburn basketball, under head coach Bruce Pearl, is playing a true road game against Appalachian State as part of a home-and-home series. This scheduling pattern aligns with Pearl's history of playing challenging games against top mid-major programs. The game will provide Auburn with a preview of playing on the road before facing tougher tests in SEC play. Appalachian State is a solid defensive team, ranked 93rd overall in the KenPom ratings system, and Auburn hopes to handle their elevated play while maintaining their own performance in the hostile environment.
Auburn forward Jaylin Williams becomes Auburn's winningest player ever with 88 wins, surpassing his former teammate Allen Flanigan. Auburn overcame a slow start on offense with the help of energetic players KD Johnson and Chad Baker-Mazara, who provided a much-needed boost. Auburn's defense showed both opportunistic moments and sporadic lapses, allowing Southeastern Louisiana to briefly get back into the game. Auburn's shooting was streaky, but the improvement of players like Johni Broome in making three-pointers has helped improve floor spacing. Overall, Auburn's shooting improved as the game progressed, leading to an 86-71 victory.
Auburn basketball defeated Auburn-Montgomery 102-66 in a preseason exhibition game, showcasing their depth despite dealing with injuries to freshman Aden Holloway and center Johni Broome. Auburn's shooting performance was subpar, particularly from beyond the arc, but they dominated in the paint. The team's defense showed inconsistency but improved as the game progressed. Holloway and Broome's injuries are not believed to be serious, but their status for the season opener against Baylor is uncertain.
Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl is already looking ahead to next season and recruiting after the team's season ended with a loss in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Despite a successful season that saw the Tigers win 20 games and advance past the opening round of the tournament for the fourth straight time, Pearl is focused on getting the team to the next level. He will spend the next few weeks figuring out what next season's roster will look like and how to rebuild it, with only one player on the current roster exhausting his eligibility.
The Iowa men's basketball team will face Auburn in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night. Both teams lost first-round NBA draft picks from the previous season, resulting in a step back in their win totals. Auburn's depth and athleticism, along with their stingy defense, will be a challenge for Iowa's high-powered offense. Auburn's offense has struggled this season, but their flex offense and dribble-drive penetration could pose a problem for Iowa's defense. Rebounding will be a critical factor in the game, as Iowa has become one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the Big Ten, while Auburn struggles with allowing offensive rebounds.