Auburn's Bruce Pearl: 'I think Tennessee fans will cheer for us' in second round vs. Creighton
LEXINGTON — A week ago to the day, Tennessee and Auburn were on opposing sides. The Vols and Tigers battling in the SEC Tournament semifinals at Bridgestone Arena, both fighting for a spot in the championship game on Sunday.
On Saturday night, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl hopes to find some common ground with Tennessee fans at Rupp Arena.
Auburn, the No. 1 seed in the South Region, faces No. 9 Creighton in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at 7:10 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by Tennessee, the No. 2 seed in the Midwest, against No. 7 UCLA in the late game, scheduled for a 9:40 p.m. ET start on TBS/TruTV.
Bruce Pearl: ‘Coach Barnes and I have got a very close relationship’
Pearl was asked during his press conference Friday afternoon if he had a message to send Tennessee fans that would be in the building for Auburn’s game.
“I had thought about that a little bit,” Pearl said. “I think because Tennessee and Auburn are in different regions and because Tennessee and Auburn have played so competitively against one another — because Coach Barnes and I have got a very close relationship and because I used to be the Tennessee coach and it was great to be a Tennessee Vol back in the — I think Tennessee fans will cheer for us, and I hope they do.”
Pearl went 145-61 in six seasons at Tennessee from 2005-11, taking the Vols to the NCAA Tournament six times, including two Sweet Sixteens and an Elite Eight.
Barnes is 230-107 in his 10th season at Tennessee. He took the Vols to the Elite Eight last season, has been to the Sweet Sixteen twice and has the program in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time during the current run of seven straight tournament appearances, a program record.
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Tennessee, Auburn split two games this season
Tennessee beat Auburn 70-65 Saturday in the SEC Tournament semifinal, before losing 86-77 to Florida, the fourth No .1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, in the championship game. Auburn beat Tennessee 53-51 at Neville Arena on January 25, with the Vols giving up a four-point play with two minutes left.
In the first round on Thursday it was Louisville fans that filled Rupp Arena, only to see the Cardinals lose 89-75 against Creighton and eliminate any possibility of Auburn playing what amounted to a road game against in the second round.
No. 16-seed Alabama State hung tough with Auburn in the first half of Thursday afternoon’s second game, trailing 32-31 with 1:26 left before halftime. Pearl’s team closed the half on 9-0 run, though, on the way to an 83-63 win.
Pearl said Tennessee fans could help the environment in the second round, but his team is on its own on the floor.
“(Tennessee fans) won’t be able to rebound for us,” Pearl said, “or put balls in the bucket from the stands. But I think SEC will be represented well tomorrow.”
