Auburn Basketball

The 2021 NCAA men's basketball tournament will not feature the Auburn Tigers.

As Justin Ferguson of the Auburn Observer shared, Auburn self-imposed a postseason ban for the bribery case involving former assistant coach Chuck Person.

"This was a difficult decision but the right decision," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "I hate it for our current players. They lost the opportunity for the postseason last year because of COVID, and now they will miss the postseason again. It's a two-year postseason penalty for them. However, we need to take this penalty now to put it behind us."

This is a difficult blow for a Tigers program that is becoming more of a national presence under Pearl.

Auburn went to the Final Four during the 2018-19 campaign and was a threat to do so again last season at 25-6 before the postseason was canceled. Pearl also led the team to the NCAA tournament in 2017-18, which was its first appearance in the Big Dance since the 2002-03 season.

Unfortunately for the program, it will not be able to build on that momentum with another postseason run in 2020-21.

As for the violation in question, Tom Green of AL.com pointed out Person was arrested in 2017 as part of the FBI's extended investigation into college basketball recruiting. Mark Murphy of 247Sports noted the Tigers fired Person in the aftermath.

That did not stop former Auburn center Austin Wiley from missing a season of eligibility because of Person's actions.

The Tigers start their season Thursday against Saint Joseph's.

Auburn added a potential superstar to its 2021-22 roster Friday when Jabari Smith announced his commitment to the team.

110 percent committed 🦅🦅🦅 WAR EAGLE. https://t.co/3ISpqcGn3G pic.twitter.com/o4779xTnND

— Jabari Smith Jr (@jabarismithjr) October 9, 2020

Smith chose the Tigers among a group of six finalists that consisted of North Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU and Tennessee, per Travis Barnham of 247Sports.

"They play very free," Smith said regarding Auburn in comments made to Barnham on his top-six choices days before the announcement.

"I think they’re a very good defensive team, so I think that will bring out the defensive part of my game that people don’t really see. I feel like they always play with long active wings and forwards so I think that will be a good fit for me. They also just talk about how I would fit in their play style."

The Georgia native is regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in the 2021 freshman class. He is a 5-star recruit and the No. 5 overall player in the country, per 247Sports composite rankings. Per Nathan King of 247Sports, Smith is also the highest-ranked recruit in Auburn men's hoops history.

"He now has good size for the position to go with a still extremely physically immature frame with plenty of room to gain strength," per 247Sports' Josh Gershon. "While Smith has a jump hook and can post up, he is most comfortable facing up. He has a smooth stroke with range to the perimeter. Improving athletically and as a passer. Rebounds area well and has made progress as rim protector."

Gershon compared Smith's skills to Houston Rockets forward Robert Covington. 

Already standing at 6'10" with a 210-pound frame that can fill out as his body physically matures, he has immediate impact potential because of his ability to score from anywhere on the court. 

The versatility Smith offers the Tigers in two seasons will make them one of the most dangerous teams in college basketball. He's also got the ability to add even more diversity to his game thanks to his raw athleticism, passing skills and size at the rim to create problems for opponents. 

In six seasons with the Tigers, Bruce Pearl has transformed them into a national powerhouse capable of competing with anyone for elite talent. 

It's a testament to Pearl's ability as a recruiter and coach that he's taken this program to the heights it's reached. Prior to his arrival in 2014, the Tigers had just one winning record and zero NCAA tournament appearances in the previous seven years. 

Auburn advanced to the Final Four two years ago for the first time in school history. The team was set up for another deep tournament run last year before the tournament was canceled. 

Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season when Smith arrives on campus, the Tigers are set up to challenge the best programs in the SEC, like Kentucky and Tennessee, with more than enough talent to go deep in March. 

Auburn Tigers men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl believes athletes can play the role of guinea pigs for the university as it decides when and how to bring students back amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pearl said having athletes on campus first presents the opportunity to conduct "some trials and errors" before the entire student body potentially arrives following time off in the summer, per Josh Vitale of the Montgomery Advertiser.

Pearl's Tigers were well-positioned to challenge for a deep run in the NCAA men's tournament before it, along with so many other things in sports, was canceled because of the pandemic. His team was 25-6 and earned the No. 2 seed in the SEC tournament with a 12-6 conference record.

The latest comments from Pearl come after Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy made waves with comments suggesting players would likely be fine to return and should because of the money they generate for others.

Gundy told reporters in April:

"In my opinion, if we have to bring our players back, test them. They're all in good shape. They're all 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22-year-olds. They're healthy. A lot of them can fight it off with their natural body, the antibodies and the build that they have. There's some people that are asymptomatic. If that's true, then we sequester them. And people say that's crazy. No, it's not crazy because we need to continue and budget and run money through the state of Oklahoma."

Gundy eventually apologized after his comments generated backlash:

For what it’s worth. pic.twitter.com/ekyK5cPz89

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) April 11, 2020

As for Pearl, his sport has the luxury of some time before its 2020-21 season is slated to start, even though it lost its marquee event in March. Other leagues, such as the NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS, are working on shorter timelines as they attempt to find a way to complete and start seasons that are supposed to be underway.

Pearl is 125-78 in six campaigns with the Tigers and led them to their only Final Four in school history in 2019.

Four-star forward JT Thor announced his commitment to Auburn over Oklahoma State in an interview with Evan Daniels of 247Sports on Sunday.

"Bruce Pearl and the class that's coming in jelled well with me. I feel like we can have a really good season next year," Thor told Daniels. "He's a player's coach, first of all, and he's a winner. He had players before me that played like me, so I feel like I can fit in well to his system and we can make it work."

Four-star forward JT Thor (@thorrjt) joins @247Sports to make his college announcement.

“This fall I’ll be taking my talents to Auburn University.” pic.twitter.com/ZCp2RdqIRc

— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) April 12, 2020

Thor is the No. 51 overall recruit and eighth-ranked power forward in the 2020 class, per 247Sports' composite.

Auburn currently has the No. 8 recruiting class in 2020, with Thor highlighting the group along with guard Sharife Cooper. Thor and Cooper are both Georgia products and have an existing relationship from working out together.

"We used to play two-on-two, three-on-threes," Thor said of Cooper. "Every time we're on the same team, we feel like we're unstoppable. Every time he throws me a lob, I set him a screen, pick-and-pop. I feel like me and him jell together and we can make a lot of noise next year."

Thor is a springy 6'8" athlete who will need to add some bulk to his 190-pound frame as he develops. He's nevertheless an electric dunker who can also stretch defenses beyond the arc—an ideal template for the modern 4.

Cooper and Thor should be one of the best young pick-and-pop combos in the nation next season for Bruce Pearl. 

Auburn Tigers wing Isaac Okoro will test the 2020 NBA draft waters, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Okoro spent one season at Auburn, averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 29.0 percent from three.

Auburn HC Bruce Pearl said SF Isaac Okoro will put himself through the NBA Draft process, as expected.

Pearl said that if Okoro gets the feedback that he's still a lottery pick, he should stay in the draft.

— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) March 20, 2020

Bruce Pearl said he talked with Isaac Okoro about the NBA a little bit during the recruiting process. However, that's not what Okoro focuses on. He plays for joy, and it showed this season.

— Giana Han (@giana_jade) March 20, 2020

Regarding Isaac Okoro, Bruce Pearl said they spoke about the NBA during the recruiting process.

Most thought, at the time, it would take him a couple years to get in position to be drafted. That trajectory obviously changed this season.

Said Okoro will go through draft process.

— Tom Green (@Tomas_Verde) March 20, 2020

It always seemed probable that Okoro would be one-and-done. He was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school and No. 36 overall, per 247Sports' composite rankings, but he quickly climbed draft boards with his two-way play.

In a February mock draft, B/R's Jonathan Wasserman wrote, "Consistently making winning plays at both ends, Isaac Okoro has risen with substance over flash."

He added, "Valued for defense first, Okoro has been creating a convincing case to NBA scouts using his physical 6'6" frame, quick feet and focus to stay attached around the perimeter and wall up inside."

Just caught up on Auburn-Vandy. What an all-around performance from Isaac Okoro. Checks so many boxes on both ends of the floor. Energetic, physical and athletic but also has a real BBIQ. Has the handle + vision to buy him time offensively as his jumper comes along. Winner. pic.twitter.com/hGNmHspEa6

— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) January 9, 2020

Okoro has serious upside, though he'll be a project. Namely, his offensive game needs work. But he has a chance to be a top-10 pick, and with the 2021 draft expected to be deeper, Okoro made the wise decision to declare after one season.

When the SEC tournament tips off Wednesday night in Nashville, much of the attention surrounding it will be focused in Lexington. With Kentucky guard Ashton Hagans briefly leaving the team due to personal reasons before the Wildcats played Florida this past Saturday, both UK fans and the rest of the SEC awaits word on whether he'll return. 

The Wildcats are the presumptive favorite to win their fifth SEC tournament title in the last six seasons, and Hagans is a big reason for that. The freshman from Cartersville, Georgia, leads the team in assists (6.4 per game), is fourth in scoring, fifth in rebounds and arguably the team's best perimeter defender and largest offensive catalyst.

Without him, Kentucky will still be a hard team to knock out in Nashville, especially because of the way Big Blue Nation travels to this event. But if he does return, it's hard to bet against the Wildcats' guard trio of Hagans, Immanuel Quickley and Tyrese Maxey, who combine to average better than 41 points per game. 

On UK's heels will be Auburn, who beat Kentucky somewhat handily in their first matchup on Feb. 1, LSU, Mississippi State and a Florida team looking for revenge after being swept by John Calipari's squad this year.

Here's how the entire bracket, which you can find here, breaks down, along with our predictions.

       

No. 14 Vanderbilt (Odds to win SEC Tournament via Caesars Palace: +100000)

The Commodores have been without leading scorer, Aaron Nesmith, since January, and despite impressive campaigns from guards Saben Lee and Scotty Pippen Jr., they don't have enough firepower to knock off a suddenly resurgent Arkansas team in the play-in round. 

        

No. 13 Georgia (+10000)

Georgia fans hoped that potential top-five draft pick Anthony Edwards could turn around their basketball fortunes. He's carried the Bulldogs to this point, but Wednesday night will be his last in red and black. Ole Miss' guard combo of Devontae Shuler and Breein Tyree will be enough to send Georgia home early. 

          

No. 12 Ole Miss (+12500)

Coming off an NCAA tournament appearance in Kermit Davis' first season at the helm, Ole Miss had high expectations of a top-half finish in the SEC and a return to the Big Dance with Shuler and Tyree. The Rebels will beat Georgia, eke out a win against fifth-seeded Florida before falling to in-state rival Mississippi State—a team desperate to get off the bubble—in the quarterfinals. 

          

No. 11 Arkansas (+1500)

Before star guard Isaiah Joe went down with an injury in early February, the Razorbacks had the looks of a lock for an at-large bid. Five straight losses took them out of that conversation, but three wins in the five games since Joe returned have them squarely on the bubble.

With Joe and Mason Jones, the SEC's leading scorer, back together, Eric Musselman's squad could be dangerous. The Razorbacks will easily dispatch Vanderbilt and send South Carolina packing in a second-round upset. They'll face a wildly unpredictable LSU squad in the quarterfinals, and the duo of Joe and Jones will be just enough to get a win and guarantee a spot in March Madness. But let's not get too crazy: A semifinal date with Auburn will be the Razorbacks' demise. 

           

No. 10 Missouri (+6000)

On certain nights, Cuonzo Martin's squad looks like a surefire tournament team. On most others, you wonder how exactly the Tigers won seven SEC games in the first place. After falling to first-round opponent Texas A&M twice during the regular season, Martin's squad is unable to prove third time's the charm and heads back to Columbia with a lot of offseason questions. 

             

No. 9 Alabama (+2200)

There are few better offenses in the league than Alabama's when the Crimson Tide are cooking. But Rick Barnes has Tennessee playing well (except against Auburn), and the Vols are right on the cusp of a tournament berth. Advantage Tennessee. 

           

No. 8 Tennessee (+2000)

Tennessee has gotten more than anyone would've expected out of forward John Fulkerson, who is averaging 13.7 points and 5.9 rebounds this year after averaging just 3.1 and 2.6 a year ago. The Vols will beat Alabama and might have enough left in the tank to keep it close with Kentucky, but Calipari's squad will have plenty of rest and revenge on their mind after Tennessee's 81-73 win at Rupp Arena last week. Looks like the NIT for UT. 

         

No. 7 Texas A&M (+7500)

Buzz Williams is very likely the SEC Coach of the Year, and for good reason. The Aggies weren't expected to avoid the play-in games on Wednesday, and instead, they're on the fringe of the NCAA tournament conversation. Expect them to knock off Missouri for the third time, but they won't be able to overcome Auburn. 

           

No. 6 South Carolina (+2500)

Frank Martin's squad has been enigmatic this year, and the SEC tournament second round will be no different. South Carolina will give an underseeded Arkansas team a good run, but there are very few duos in the SEC—if any—that are better than Mason Jones and Isaiah Joe. The Gamecocks will miss the Big Dance for the seventh time in Martin's eight years in Columbia.  

        

No. 5 Florida (+700)

No team has been a bigger disappointment than the Gators in the SEC this year. They're still a likely lock for the tournament regardless of their performance in Nashville, but they'll be a little closer to the bubble after a loss against Ole Miss in Round 2. 

         

No. 4 Mississippi State (+700)

Yes, your eyes are correct. The fourth-best team in the SEC this year is a bubble team. The Bulldogs were less than impressive in the non-conference schedule but have turned things around in SEC play. Awaiting them on Friday in their first game of the tournament will be an Ole Miss squad coming off two wins in two days. But the combination of double-double machine Reggie Perry and guards Tyson Carter, Robert Woodard and Nick Weatherspoon will be too much for the Rebels to overcome. 

           

No. 3 LSU (+450)

The Tigers have plenty of talent to win the whole thing; the question is which team will show up. Arkansas, coming off a pair of wins and feeling good about its NCAA tournament hopes, will have plenty of momentum when these teams face off on Friday. But Will Wade's squad will be well rested, and will make just enough plays to hold off the Razorbacks and get back to the semifinals.

           

No. 2 Auburn (+300) 

On paper, you could argue Auburn is the most-talented team in the league. Samir Doughty has scored in double figures in 13 of his last 14 games, and coach Bruce Pearl has plenty of slashers to surround him with. The Tigers should easily take care of Texas A&M in the quarterfinals and squeak past LSU to get back into the SEC title game after winning the tournament a year ago. 

           

No. 1 Kentucky (+225)

Kentucky's fate gets a whole lot more interesting if Ashton Hagans doesn't return after a one-game sabbatical. But assuming he does, it's hard to see the Wildcats losing to Tennessee a second time, and they have too much guard talent for Mississippi State to overcome.

They'll meet Auburn in the title game in an arena that will almost feel like a Kentucky home game because of Big Blue Nation. The Tigers will give them a run, but Kentucky sneaks out of Nashville with some much-needed momentum heading into Selection Sunday. 

         

Here's how and where you can watch it all unfold. 

(Note: All times Eastern; some start times approximated.)

First round: Wednesday, March 11

Game 1: No. 12 Ole Miss vs. No. 13 Georgia | 6 p.m. on SECN

Game 2: No. 11 Arkansas vs. No. 14 Vanderbilt | 8:25 p.m. on SECN 

        

Second round: Thursday, March 12

Game 3: No. 8 Tennessee vs. No. 9 Alabama  | 12 p.m. on SEC Network

Game 4: No. 5 Florida vs. Game 1 winner | 2:25 p.m. on SEC Network

Game 5: No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Missouri | 6 p.m. on SEC Network

Game 6: No. 6 South Carolina vs. Game 2 winner  | 8:25 p.m. on SEC Network

        

Quarterfinals: Friday, March 13

Game 7: No. 1 Kentucky vs. Game 3 winner | 12 p.m. on ESPN

Game 8: No. 4 Mississippi State vs. Game 4 winner | 2:25 p.m. on ESPN

Game 9: No. 2 Auburn vs. Game 5 winner | 6 p.m. on SEC Network

Game 10: No. 3 LSU vs. Game 6 winner | 8:25 p.m. on SEC Network

         

Semifinals: Saturday, March 14

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner | 12 p.m. on ESPN

Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 2:25 p.m. on ESPN

           

SEC Tournament Championship Game: Sunday, March 15

Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner | 12 p.m. on ESPN

        

Follow Keegan on Twitter @ByKeeganPope.

The No. 11 Auburn Tigers came into Saturday's SEC showdown with the No. 18 LSU Tigers a perfect 12-0 at home. Thanks to J'Von McCormick, the streak extended to 13. 

His one-handed floater with less than a second remaining in overtime was the game-winner in Auburn's 91-90 win.

J'VON MCCORMICK GAME WINNER IN OT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AhuOcHjpUG

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 8, 2020

Samir Doughty (26 points) and McCormick (23 points, nine rebounds, nine assists) led the way for Auburn (21-2, 8-2 in conference), which trailed by as many as 15 points in the game and overcame an eight-point deficit with 1:26 remaining.

LSU (17-6, 8-2 in the SEC) will be kicking itself for blowing this game, though the hot shooting of McCormick and Doughty late played a major factor. McCormick hit three straight threes in the final 1:26, and and Doughty spun home a game-tying layup with 13 seconds remaining after an Auburn turnover.  

LSU's Skylar Mays (30 points, eight assists) had the chance to ice the game on the next possession but missed his three-point attempt, sending the game to overtime. 

Doughty and McCormick stayed hot in the overtime session, hitting two threes apiece to give Auburn a seven-point cushion with 1:51 remaining. But LSU staged its own late comeback and led by one point with nine seconds remaining. That set the stage for McCormick to play the role of hero. 

Mark this one down as an instant classic, and mark Auburn down as one of the stories of the season yet again. 

23, 9, and 9 for J'Von McCormick in the win.

Game of the Year in the SEC.

This is ONLY February. https://t.co/6B8fi4xol8

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 8, 2020

Bra i know auburn arena is crazy lit right now !!😂

— Bryce Brown (@Bwb_2) February 8, 2020

Welp, that was the most “Auburn” thing ever 🤦🏾‍♂️😂 pic.twitter.com/keiNJbw8rA

— ⭐️Deshaun Davis⭐ (@_Davis_Boy12) February 8, 2020

Auburn lost Jared Harper, Bryce Brown, and Chuma Okeke from last year's team that reached the Final Four.

The Tigers are currently 21-2 overall.

Bruce Pearl is a legitimate candidate for National Coach of the Year.

One of the great building jobs of the last quarter century.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 8, 2020

Things will be far gloomier in the opposing locker room, however, after LSU blew a game it had well in hand. It's been a tough stretch for the Tigers in the past two games.

Auburn knocks off LSU in OT and now tied with the Tigers for first in the SEC. LSU follows up an embarrassing loss to Vanderbilt with blowing a late lead in regulation.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 8, 2020

LSU head coach Will Wade credited Auburn's Devan Cambridge—who came off the bench and chipped in 21 points—for helping to turn the game around.

"Cambridge was the difference, just like he was against South Carolina," he said, per Justin Ferguson of The Athletic. "I thought [Auburn's] guard play and Cambridge were tremendous."

Auburn will look to extend its six-game winning streak against Alabama on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, while LSU will look to end its two-game slide Tuesday evening at 9 p.m. ET against Missouri. 

One of the top playmakers in the 2020 class is off the board after Sharife Cooper committed to play basketball for the Auburn Tigers. 

Cooper announced his decision Friday:

AU wusgood 🤣

— Sharife Cooper (@SharifeCooper) September 27, 2019

Five-star point guard Sharife Cooper is an Auburn commit! @CooperSharife https://t.co/ee7ue1CUBc

— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) September 28, 2019

Cooper is one of the nation's most highly regarded point guards and had offers from schools such as Kentucky and Florida. The Georgia native is a 5-star prospect, the No. 2 player at his position and the No. 18 overall recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

Per the 247Sports scouting report:

"Limited height but tremendous quickness and body control. Strong with the basketball. Extremely ambidextrous and also an accurate one-hand passer with either hand. Scores from all three levels with a variety of shots. Tremendous distributor. Needs to tighten up his defense and also become a more physical defender."

One big feather in Cooper's cap came during July 2018 when he received the stamp of approval from NBA superstar Kevin Durant at the Nike Peach Jam event.

"He told me he really liked my game and that he felt like I had the whole package," Cooper told Jason Jordan of USA Today. "He told me to let him know if I needed any advice because he said he wanted to see me in the NBA."

Cooper fits the mold of other recent notable college point guards as someone capable of succeeding despite size. 247Sports lists him at 6'0" and 160 pounds. Trae Young was listed at 6'2" and 180 pounds at Oklahoma. Murray State's Ja Morant was listed at 6'3" and 175 pounds.

Based on Cooper's scouting report, he also shares similarities with those players on the court. Young and Morant made their names in college by being able to score from anywhere and finding ways to put their teammates in great positions to get easy baskets.

Head coach Bruce Pearl continues to knock it out of the park for the Tigers. He led the program to consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019, a feat not accomplished at the school in nearly 20 years. 

Auburn has had success despite not being a staple at the top of national recruiting rankings. Its 2018 freshman class didn't even rank among the top 13 in the SEC, per 247Sports, but the team won a school-record 30 games last season.

Now that high-level recruits have seen what Pearl is capable of doing at Auburn, they appear to be ready to offer their services to the program. Cooper will be the face of Tigers basketball for as long as he's there and will keep them in the running for SEC and national titles.        

The Auburn Tigers basketball program didn't publicly disclose a series of self-imposed recruiting sanctions it put in place following the arrest of former assistant coach Chuck Person as part of the FBI's investigation into alleged corruption within college basketball. 

Auburn University confirmed to Sam Blum of AL.com the list of penalties included limitations on unofficial visits, official visits, contacts, evaluations and phone calls, and noted the basketball staff, led by head coach Bruce Pearl, didn't do any recruiting activities from September 2017 through April 2018.

"If it's OK with you, I'm leaving those subjects alone and refer you to compliance," Pearl told AL.com.

All of the sanctions were a direct result of Person's actions, but Auburn is no longer serving any of the self-imposed penalties, per Blum.

Person pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in March after being charged with accepting an estimated $91,500 in bribes to steer potential clients to a Pittsburgh-based financial adviser if they reached the NBA.

The 55-year-old Alabama native, who was voted the 1987 NBA Rookie of the Year, avoided jail time when he was sentenced in July. He must serve 200 hours of community service and forfeit the $91,500.

"I did wrong," Person said. "I've got to make amends for what I did."

Auburn overcame the previously undisclosed sanctions to reach the program's first Final Four last season.

The Tigers posted a 30-10 record and won the 2019 SEC Tournament championship before a memorable March Madness run that ended with a loss to the eventual national champion Virginia Cavaliers.

Last month, Pearl said on the College Hoops Today podcast with CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein (via AL.com) he felt further punishment could still be handled down by the NCAA.

"I am anticipating that we are not finished completely," he said. "I am anticipating because we have gotten through a lot of things with the NCAA, obviously with the federal government, that case is closed. But I would [anticipate] that we would have to finish some things up. I do feel like the worst is behind us."

Auburn is scheduled to open the 2019-20 season Nov. 5 against the Georgia Southern Eagles.

A run to the 2019 Final Four has earned Auburn Tigers coach Bruce Pearl a new contract.

Auburn announced Friday it has come to terms with Pearl on a five-year extension.

"I'm grateful to my coaching and support staff for building a competitive men's basketball program," Pearl said in a statement. "I'm grateful to our players for buying in, working extremely hard and representing what being an Auburn man and student-athlete is all about. We have the best fan base in America. The Auburn Family is for real and, along with The Jungle, create a unique gameday atmosphere. It's great to be an Auburn Tiger. War Eagle!"

Tigers athletic director Allen Greene expressed his excitement for keeping the coach:

"Under Bruce's leadership, our basketball program has reached new heights. Our young men continue to thrive in the classroom and on the court. We've experienced many firsts, including a well-documented run to the Final Four and a pair of SEC title. Bruce and his wife Brandy have been very active within the university and the Auburn community and we are appreciative of all of their efforts. Our return on investment is undeniable, and supporting this program from A-to-Z will continue to be a priority. Simply stated, we look forward to having Bruce as the head coach of our basketball program for many years to come."

After taking over in 2014, Pearl has made Auburn nationally relevant.

Pearl lost 20 games in each of his first two years on the job, but he helped the Tigers snap a 14-year NCAA tournament drought in 2018. That set the stage for the best season in program history.

Auburn went 30-10 this past season, winning the SEC tournament en route to its second consecutive invitation to the Big Dance. The fifth-seeded Tigers survived a first-round scare against 12th-seeded New Mexico State before knocking off college basketball blue bloods Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky to earn their first trip to the Final Four.

The Tigers were seconds away from earning a spot in the 2019 national championship game—and then chaos broke loose. The refs appeared to miss a double dribble, and Auburn was called for a foul on a potential go-ahead three-pointer moments later. 

Virginia's Kyle Guy would sink all three free throws to give his team a 63-62 lead, and the Cavaliers would go on to win the national championship two days later.

To his credit, Pearl handled the events with class. With the officials being heavily criticized, the 59-year-old coach went on ESPN's Get Up! earlier this week and told people to "get over it":

There's no shame in losing to the champs, but the Tigers will always be left wondering what could have been.

Pearl is 100-72 in five years at Auburn and owns a 331-171 career record, previously coaching at Milwaukee and Tennessee.