Auburn basketball HC Bruce Pearl praises Southern Indiana after OVC jump
Before the 2021-22 Auburn basketball season began, there was a highly competitive scrimmage on November 5th that allowed the Tigers a chance to face a legitimate opponent before the games counted on their record.
Southern Indiana marched into the newly renamed Neville Arena (of course known as the Auburn Arena) and gave Bruce Pearl’s bunch hell for the first 20 minutes before the Tigers pulled away late. The Screaming Eagles actually led for much of the first half and held a 54-46 lead in the second half.
Auburn basketball responded with a 22-0 run to close them out, but Stan Gouard came and nearly conquered Pearl, who coached him during USI’s 1995 NCAA Championship run.
Now, Southern Indiana is on its way to the Ohio Valley Conference after applying yesterday and being invited to join today.
And Bruce Pearl couldn’t be happier:
Talk about a perfect fit..USI is a great school in a great college basketball town! The OVC is a great mid major conference a regional fit with history of success! The @GLVCsports @OVCSports should both be proud and celebrating! https://t.co/DVwzHTnPf7
— Bruce Pearl (@coachbrucepearl) February 9, 2022
Obviously, everyone’s next thought was when a regular season game would take place:
Nice words from former USI national championship coach Bruce Pearl. Maybe an Auburn vs USI game down the road? 🤔🏀 https://t.co/idZtKPJGq3
— 102.7 The Game ESPN Owensboro (@1027TheGame) February 9, 2022
Can’t wait until Bruce Pearl and Auburn inevitably play a game in Screaming Eagles Arena https://t.co/ud17D0U4K9
— Hendrix Magley (@TweetsOfHendrix) February 9, 2022
Of course, Pearl may not chomping at the bit to play his former team considering Gouard picked up a win over Pearl’s Tennessee Volunteers in 2010 with Indianapolis.
That said, you could go ahead and add another OVC team to cheer for following the great Murray State-Auburn basketball Alliance of 2022.
So it’s War Damn (Screaming) Eagle(s), I suppose. At least it is and will always be to Bruce Pearl.