Auburn assistant basketball coach Steven Pearl has added fuel to the Iron Bowl rivalry, taking a subtle jab at Alabama head coach Nate Oats ahead of their highly anticipated matchup.
Speaking on the Stingray Show on Tide 100.9, Pearl suggested that Oats’ hiring at Alabama was influenced by the success of his father, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl.
“I don’t think Alabama goes and hires Nate Oats if Bruce Pearl isn’t at Auburn,” Steven Pearl said. “What Coach (Pearl) has done at Auburn has raised expectations across the league. Alabama got the right person in Nate Oats, but the rivalry has only gotten more intense.”
While Pearl praised Oats as one of the best coaches in the game, his comments were seen as a playful yet pointed move during rivalry week. The stakes are sky-high as the two teams prepare to face off on Saturday, with the winner likely claiming the No. 1 ranking in the nation.
The Iron Bowl of Basketball has become a marquee event in college hoops, and this year’s clash promises to deliver even more drama. With bragging rights and national supremacy on the line, the tension between the two programs has never been higher.
The game tips off Saturday, and all eyes will be on whether Pearl’s remarks give Auburn an edge—or provide Alabama with extra motivation.
