Bruce Pearl and Ray Harper renew tri-state coaching rivalry in NCAA home opener

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) — Nearly two decades since they last met, another chapter in the Bruce Pearl-Ray Harper rivalry will soon begin.

The two coaches originally met at the Great Lakes Valley Conference at the Division II level.

Pearl led the University of Southern Indiana as the head coach of men’s basketball from 1992 to 2001, while Harper led the Kentucky Wesleyan College program from 1996 to 2005.

“Kentucky Wesleyan, they were our sworn enemy — not just our rival,” Pearl said. “It was a lot like the Auburn-Alabama rivalry, and it was very, very hot at times. So I would venture to say that there probably isn’t a team in the country that Jacksonville State or Ray Harper would rather play. than Bruce Pearl and Auburn. I put it that way.”

Bruce Pearl led the University of Southern Indiana as head coach of men’s basketball from 1992 to 2001, winning a national title in 1995.(WFIE)

With Harper at the helm, KWC went 13-4 against the Screaming Eagles under Pearl, but the intensity was always present when the two shared a sideline. Longtime KWC radio play-by-play announcer Joel Utley witnessed many battles between the programs.

“It was fantastic,” Utley said. “I mean Bruce Pearl had to change his shirt after every football game, soaking wet, even at the [Owensboro] Sportscenter when the temperature dropped.

ISU sports communications director Ray Simmons worked for the Screaming Eagles during the Harper-Pearl era. No matter the record, he says the fans always showed up in force.

“Those are the two games every year that people want to go to,” Simmons said. “You go to the Sportscenter, there were 5,000 people there. You come to [Physical Activities Center], there were 3,300 people in there. It had to be one of the best rivalries in all of college basketball.

Those two coaches will now reconnect on Friday as Harper and his No. 15 seeded Jacksonville State team face off with Pearl and No. 2 seed Auburn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

“I can’t wait to see Bruce, I haven’t seen Bruce in a while,” Harper said. “I can see it on TV, now I can see it up close and personal like the good old days.”

Ray Harper coached the Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team from 1996-2005, winning... — Ray Harper coached the Kentucky Wesleyan College men’s basketball team from 1996-2005, winning two Division II national championships in 1999 and 2001.(WFIE)

So it’s fair to say that regardless of the standings, both teams will light up the field in Greenville, South Carolina.

“We were two really competitive guys, but I had the utmost respect for what he was doing and what he was doing,” Harper said. “During those 40 minutes, I was trying like crazy to kick his dick, and he was going to do the same to us. But when it was over, I don’t know if I respected anyone in this league other than Bruce Pearl. . »

Friday’s denunciation is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. CT.