The 2024-25 college basketball season is less than a month away from conference tournaments, but Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl is already a prime candidate to take home the National Coach of the Year award.
The No. 1 Tigers just took down the in-state rival, No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide, and they appear to be on a collision course for a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Bruce Pearl: A Strong Contender for National Coach of the Year
On Saturday, the No. 1 Auburn Tigers and No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide faced off in the first top-two matchup in SEC Basketball history. The Tigers played lights-out basketball on the road, winning 94-85 against their rivals after leading the whole game.
Auburn has had tremendous success this season under Pearl’s leadership. Despite competing in one of the nation’s most competitive conferences and facing numerous hurdles, Pearl has led the team to the top of the basketball rankings.
This season has been memorable for Pearl. On Jan. 7, he won his 214th game with Auburn, becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach.
This victory over Alabama also made Pearl the first coach to win two in-state top-two matchups—the first of which was a victory he notched with the Tennessee Volunteers over the Memphis Tigers almost 15 years ago.
Minutes after the Alabama game concluded, college basketball insider Jeff Goodman took to X to declare Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl as the prime Naismith College Coach of the Year award candidate.
In a postgame interview, Pearl discussed what Auburn’s victory meant.
MORE ON THE TIGERS: Bruce Pearl on Auburn Fan Turnout
“These kids are never going to forget this No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup,” Pearl said. “We played great from start to finish…We acted like we’re the No. 1 team, we prepared like we’re the No. 1 team, and we are the No. 1 team in the country.”
While the award has yet to be officially given out, Pearl’s superb leadership and the Auburn Tigers’ outstanding performance this season have established him as a front-runner.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
