umumum

March 18th, 2014 at 11:41 PM ^

he turned in Illinois/Jimmy Collins---the NCAA found nothing (not saying there was nothing)--and Pearl was ostensibly blacklisted for a time.  I personally find him refreshing for the most part, and a good coach or at least recruiter, but he does have a fair amount of baggage---baggage that fits the SEC.

FrankMurphy

March 18th, 2014 at 8:47 PM ^

How does this guy keep falling ass-backwards into opportunities, despite being a slimy douche? Pearl is truly basketball's version of Lane Kiffin.

Relatedly, I wonder what Erin Andrews thinks:

Sac Fly

March 18th, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^

As a head coach Bruce Pearl only got caught once. There are plenty of coaches who get caught cheating at every stop they make and still get hired somewhere else.

AAU basketball has turned the sport into a world of street agents and dirty coaches. That's college basketball.

Gustavo Fring

March 18th, 2014 at 9:02 PM ^

He predicted Michigan to make the Final Four earlier this week  He said when he coached against Beilein, Beilein knew exactly what he was going to do before he did it.  I guess that's how you beat Tennessee by 30 points and cap it off with a Stu Douglass tomahawk

Maizenblueball

March 18th, 2014 at 9:29 PM ^

Auburn AD to Pearl in his interview:  It's not just about winning, it's about molding young men and running a clean program.  Ehhh, who are we kidding, just win by any means necessary!  We'll provide your assistants with bags of cash for all the hookers and bribes.  Just win!

chewieblue

March 18th, 2014 at 9:37 PM ^

But have liked him more since he's been on ESPN.  Good analyst, and was not shy about speaking his mind without all the "Dicky V" style fear of hurting anyone's feelings.

Say what you want, Auburn will win sooner rather than later.

Gustavo Fring

March 18th, 2014 at 11:36 PM ^

I hope Stauskas sends that scumbag Pitino packing with a big footprint on his behind.  I don't care if people say I'm bitter, if Louisville was the better team, whatever...we were robbed and it was largely because Pitino's teams foul on every play and the refs got tired of making calls (and when they did that piece of shit complained constantly).

Never forget

Blue Since B.C.

March 19th, 2014 at 10:35 AM ^

I watched the BTN replays of the Syracuse and Louisville games last night.  I was agonizing over whether or not to watch L'Ville at all, but since I had never watched the TV broadcast I decided to.

It took me right back to that dark place when I was walking out of the Georgia Dome.  

However, this play may be the greatest block in tourney history.  

7words

March 18th, 2014 at 10:49 PM ^

I never really read much about Pearl, but i thought i recall that what he got canned for at UT wasn't that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.  Was it more than just hosting Craft for a cookout?  Like i said i didn't read much, just recall a lot of people's reactions saying that it was a minor thing. 

Sac Fly

March 18th, 2014 at 11:14 PM ^

The violation was minor, he made it major by lying to the NCAA and encouraging others to do the same.

He had a terrible incident early in the season when 4 his players got caught with weed and some guns, so he was already on thin ice. After the Craft thing they dug around the program and found drug test violations, he was gone.

Yeoman

March 18th, 2014 at 11:41 PM ^

Most people when they think of Pearl think of all the stuff at Tennessee.

I'll always remember him as the guy that tried to expose Jimmy Collins, Chicago's answer to Perry Watson. He wasn't ultimately successful and I don't imagine the coaching fraternity will ever forgive him, but I appreciate the effort at least.

johnthesavage

March 19th, 2014 at 1:22 AM ^

Seems like a crazy deal, but cheaing obviously gets you paid (ask Kevin Trudeau). But do you really think Bruce Pearl isn't going to do any recruiting until August 23rd? Can he resist the temptation to cheat again?! Dramatic.