Bruce Pearl isn’t only an SEC spokesman when it comes to college basketball. During an appearance on the Gary Parrish Show Monday, the Auburn head coach defended SEC football while taking a jab at the Big Ten.

“Top to bottom, Big Ten football is not as strong as the SEC,” Pearl said. “Go to Mississippi State when they’re having a bad year, and half your kids are in the hospital when you leave the game. It is every single night. I thought our SEC football teams were exhausted.

“Now, you’re at Ohio State, or you’re at Penn State — two teams that got deep into the playoffs… They only had two or three games on the entire schedule that were like about seven or eight games for Ole Miss or Alabama or Auburn, or any of the SEC teams. And I think those football guys were exhausted.”

Most SEC teams had a stronger strength of schedule than Big Ten teams due to the depth of the conference. Nonetheless, the Big Ten ultimately had the last laugh, with Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon each finishing within the top five of the final AP Top 25.

Most importantly, the Buckeyes brought home the national championship to the Big Ten. It’s the second year in a row a Big Ten program has won the national title, with Michigan winning it all the previous year.

Built at a cost of $86 million, Neville Arena seats 9,121 fans for basketball games, bringing Tiger fans close to the action. Neville Arena replaced the old Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum as home of Tiger basketball for the 2010-11 season.

The furthest seat in Neville Arena is just 43 feet away from the court. A full two-thirds of the seats in the facility are less than 27 feet in elevation from courtside. Auburn students have their own entrance, lobby and concessions area at the Arena to service 1,500 floor-level seats.

The Arena features a team store, six concession stands, three elevators, 94 HD televisions plus family restrooms and customer service kiosks on all seating levels. For special events, 12,000 square feet of banquet space, including tailgate and super suites, is available.

For the teams, Neville Arena offers an office suite for the coaches, locker rooms and a 13,970-square foot practice facility and weight room.

Auburn’s Jonathan B. Lovelace Museum & Hall of Honor is located on the concourse at the main entrance. Fans who visit the Lovelace Hall of Honor at Neville Arena take an interactive walk through Auburn athletics history.

Bruce Pearl honored with documentary recognizing 10 stellar years at Auburn

by:Justin Hokanson•12/02/24

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AUBURN — Bruce Pearl is 7 wins away from becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history (6 wins away to tie Joel Eaves for the distinction).

His accomplishments also include two Southeastern Conference regular-season championships, two SEC Tournament championship and five NCAA Tournament berths with the Tigers.

Auburn’s first-ever No. 1 ranking in the AP poll? Under Pearl. Auburn’s first Final Four? Under Pearl. The highest NBA draft pick in school history? Under Pearl. Without question, Pearl will go down as the greatest men’s basketball coach in Auburn history, and the best still might be yet to come.

And because of Pearl’s success and what he’s done to elevate the basketball program and the university as a whole, Auburn University is honoring him with a documentary telling the story of a basketball revival under his leadership.

Auburn Athletics will host an invite-only premiere event for the new WarEagle+ documentary, “Make History: The Revival of Bruce Pearl and Auburn Basketball” on the evening of Monday, Dec. 2, at Auburn University’s Langdon Hall. The documentary will be available for streaming exclusively for subscribers on WarEagle+

Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze has been diagnosed with an early form of prostate cancer, according to statement posted by the university on X (formerly Twitter).

The statement said the cancer was detected early, and the doctors advised that it is “very treatable and curable.” According to the statement, Freeze will “continue his normal coaching duties and responsibilities, and with forthcoming proper treatment, is expected to make a full recovery.”

Freeze, 55, finished his second season as Auburn’s head coach and his 12th as a head coach in Division I. Prior to Auburn, he spent time as head coach at Liberty, Ole Miss, Arkansas State, NAIA Lambuth University and Briarcrest High School in Tennessee.

In his two seasons at Auburn, Freeze holds a record of 11-14 and a career record of 94-57.

Auburn is currently scheduled to start spring practice on March 25. The annual A-Day Spring Game is scheduled for April 12.

Broome did briefly leave the game late in the second half with a lower-body injury after an awkward spin move. He returned and made Auburn’s final two shots from the field.

Broome was a dominating force from the beginning — he grabbed his 10th rebound early in the second half, securing the double-double with just under 17 minutes left in the game.

Broome and five teammates finished in double figures. Denver Jones scored 16 points, Chad Baker-Mazara and Miles Kelly added 15 points apiece, Chaney Johnson had 14 and Tahaad Pettiford 13.

Auburn starter Dylan Cardwell fouled out after playing just 12 minutes, Baker-Mazara, who came off the benche, fouled out with just over two minutes remaining. Johnson, who averages 23 minutes, picked up much of the slack, playing 33 minutes as Auburn shot 46% from the field.

Mark Sears scored 18 points and Grant Nelson added 12 points and 12 rebounds for Alabama, which rallied from a double-digit deficit in the game, but failed to complete the comeback.

Oats used the loss as a refocusing opportunity with his team for the three weeks until their next game against the Tigers.

“We’re not in full control of our destiny to win the league outright, but we are in control of our destiny to at least get a tie going forward,” Oats said. “We’ll see the maturity and leadership we have coming in on Monday.”

The Auburn Tigers men’s basketball program has secured a major victory with the commitment of the No. 1 player in America, a coveted prospect who chose Auburn over rivals Alabama and Georgia Bulldogs. This commitment is a monumental moment for the Tigers, a program that has seen rapid success under head coach Bruce Pearl but is now positioned to ascend even higher with this addition to their roster.

The player, whose name has been a staple in recruiting circles for the past year, is highly regarded for his exceptional skill set, athleticism, and basketball IQ. His recruitment process was one of the most closely watched in recent memory, with several top-tier programs vying for his commitment. Auburn, Alabama, and Georgia had emerged as the three final contenders, each offering its own unique appeal, but the Tigers ultimately emerged victorious in securing this elite talent.

Auburn’s rise to prominence in recent years has been nothing short of impressive. Under Coach Bruce Pearl, the Tigers have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), making multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and even reaching the Final Four in 2019. Pearl’s ability to recruit at the highest level, combined with his energetic and up-tempo coaching style, has made Auburn a desirable destination for top high school prospects. This commitment from the nation’s No. 1 player only solidifies Auburn’s position among the elite programs in college basketball.

The player’s decision to choose Auburn over Alabama and Georgia is a significant blow to both of these programs, which had worked tirelessly to recruit him. Alabama, in particular, has been a rising force in the SEC in recent years under head coach Nate Oats. The Crimson Tide have made considerable strides, particularly with their up-tempo style of play, and they had hoped to add the nation’s top recruit to their lineup. Likewise, Georgia, while rebuilding under coach Mike White, had placed a significant emphasis on landing such a high-profile recruit to boost their chances of returning to national relevance. Despite these efforts, the Tigers proved to be the most attractive option for the standout player.

This commitment is likely to have immediate and long-term impacts on Auburn’s program. In the short term, the player’s arrival will provide a significant boost to Auburn’s 2025-2026 roster. His skills as an all-around player — from scoring to playmaking to defense — will make him an immediate contributor and potentially the centerpiece of the team’s future success. Auburn’s ability to pair him with other top-tier recruits and experienced players already on the roster bodes well for a deep NCAA Tournament run in the upcoming seasons.

In the long run, this commitment serves as a statement of Auburn’s continued growth as a premier basketball program. The player’s decision to commit to the Tigers sends a message to future recruits that Auburn is a place where top-tier talent can not only compete for championships but also develop into NBA-level prospects. With Coach Pearl at the helm, Auburn will likely remain a powerhouse in the SEC and on the national stage for years to come.

In conclusion, Auburn’s acquisition of the No. 1 player in America is a major coup for the Tigers and sets the stage for an exciting era of basketball in Auburn, Alabama. The impact of this commitment will resonate for years, and the Tigers are primed to be a major contender in both the SEC and NCAA Tournament. The competition from Alabama and Georgia was fierce, but ultimately, the Auburn Tigers came out on top, solidifying their place among the elite programs in college basketball.