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Bruce Pearl on Day 1 of March Madness: Alabama looked like a ‘basketball state’

By Andrew Hughes

Bruce Pearl commented on both the Alabama and Auburn basketball programs after both teams took care of business on the first day of the Round of 64 Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Bruce Pearl commented on both the Alabama and Auburn basketball programs after both teams took care of business on the first day of the Round of 64 Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bruce Pearl acknowledges that Birmingham is a gridiron stronghold, but on March 16, the opening day of Round of 64 play and the official kickstart of the 2023 March Madness tournament, the Auburn basketball head coach proclaimed that it was hoops that ruled the day in the Magic City and the Yellowhammer State as a whole.

“Guys, this is Birmingham, Alabama,” Bruce Pearl told reporters after the game. “This is football country. And we dominate. And I’m really proud of that. But we looked like a basketball state today.”

Pearl recognized that Auburn wasn’t alone in making Alabama the Sweet Home the center of the college basketball world, shouting out Nate Oats’ No. 1 overall March Madness seed as well. “Alabama took care of their business today early on,” Pearl said, referring to Alabama’s 96-75 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. “They filled the building. Auburn played a really good team out of the Big Ten. And we played well and we filled our building. And I think it makes a statement about basketball in the state of Auburn and the great job that people here in Birmingham did putting this tournament together.”

Bruce Pearl can end program losing streak to Houston

The paths of Auburn and Houston have seldom crossed on the hardwood, with the two teams having last played in 1982. Houston won all four games in the Space City and the one game the two teams played on the Plains, while the series is even on a neutral court.

While history from the 20th century isn’t exactly relevant to the current landscape, Bruce Pearl can end a five-game losing streak to the Cougars for the Auburn basketball program as the 62-year-old continues to lead the Tigers to new heights as head coach.

Alabama fans should want Auburn to defeat Houston

In a twist fitting only in the month of March, Alabama fans may want to see Auburn pick up the victory on March 18 when the Tigers play Houston as AL.com’s Jeff Goodman explains.

“The Final Four, after all, is in Houston,” he prefaced before saying, “If Auburn, playing in front of a home-state crowd, can knock off and upset the Houston Cougars, then that might be the biggest win of all for Auburn’s rival.”

Only in March. Right Princeton and Furman?

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