College basketball insider tabs Auburn's Bruce Pearl as 'only name' to replace Dan Hurley at UConn

Bruce Pearl is the “only name” to replace Dan Hurley at UConn if the latter leaves for the Los Angeles Lakers, according to The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman.

The Auburn head coach has been highly successful throughout his career. As Goodman pointed out, it would be a logical transition for the two-time defending national champions.

Goodman even went as far as to calling Pearl a “no brainer,” compared to elevating assistants.

“The only name, here’s the only name I would go after, there’s one,” Goodman said on his podcast. “If I was David Benedict, I would take that swing at, you know who it is? Bruce Pearl. That’s the only one for me. He’s from Sharon, Massachusetts. He’s down in Auburn now. He’s done an unbelievable job.

“He’s been successful everywhere he’s been. He’s got the personality to match Hurley. If there’s anybody that could keep that fan base riled up to the level that Hurley has riled him up and gotten him going over the last couple of years, it is Bruce Pearl. So if I’m Dave Benedict, that’s the only name that’s the only name I call.”

Bruce Pearl the guy to get if Dan Hurley leaves?

Pearl just won the SEC Tournament with the Tigers in 2024, the second they did so under the coach. He previously made a Final Four in 2019, but hasn’t advanced past the Round of 32 with Auburn at the NCAA Tournament.

Pearl is 214-119 with Auburn and 676-264 overall as a head coahc with the Tigers, Tennessee, Milwaukee and Southern Indiana.

“Mo disrespect to Kimani Young and Luke Murray, but like Bruce Pearl’s done it at the highest levels a head coach for how many years,” Goodman said. “Like it’s a no brainer to me and you may take a step back. Yeah, you may lose, who knows … You may take a step back this year, but to me that’s more of, Bruce Pearl is gonna get players at UConn …

“As I said at the beginning, this thing isn’t done by any means for Dan Hurley. This isn’t done. So he’s still got to figure out whether he wants this job. But if that happens, Dave Benedict has a difficult decision. And to me again, I don’t think you’re wrong with elevating one of those guys, but to me it’s a no brainer. I would go hard after Bruce Pearl.”

UConn athletic director David Benedict is familiar with Pearl alright. He was the COO of the athletics departemnt for two years prior to coming to UConn in 2016.

When was Pearl hired at Auburn? That’s right, 2014. The connection seems valid, per Goodman.