Auburn assistant basketball coach Steven Pearl made sure to use the Tigers' second Final Four berth as a way to rub it in Alabama's face for not making it and losing to Duke in the Elite Eight's East Regional.
“It’s crazy...For us to go to our second Final Four since 2019, the only school in the state of Alabama to go to two Final Fours, it’s special," Pearl said in the locker room after a 70-64 win over Michigan State, per The Next Round Live.
"It’s an incredible accomplishment and to do it with my dad, that makes it even more special."
This isn't the first time Pearl has belittled Alabama to make a statement. In February, he claimed Nate Oats' success in the SEC was because Bruce became Auburn's head coach.
“I don’t think Alabama goes and hires Nate Oats if Bruce Pearl isn’t at Auburn,” Steven Pearl said, per Saturday Down South. “That’s not throwing shade on anyone. I just think that what Coach (Pearl) has been able to do at Auburn has raised the level of expectations at other schools in this league. They said, ‘Listen if Auburn can do it, we can do it at a high level too if we get the right person like Auburn did.’ Alabama got the right person. Nate Oats is one of the best coaches in the game right now. His stats and accolades back that up. He’s done an unbelievable job and the rivalry has only gotten more intense and only gotten better.”
The Crimson Tide made a second straight Elite Eight and have been to the Sweet 16 three of the last five years. Oats has the Crimson Tide in a great pace for as long as he doesn't jump ship to a bigger job. His tenure in Tuscaloosa can stand on its own two feet without Pearl getting unearned credit.
But facts are facts: Auburn has been to more Final Fours than Alabama and is still in play to win the state's first national championship on the hardwood.
Count on Steven to effectively relay that point every time.