Bruce Pearl is aware the SEC struggled in the NCAA Tournament, and the Auburn coach spoke out Sunday night after his team fell in the second round to Miami.
But there was also Kentucky’s shock first-round upset on Thursday, with Alabama falling to Notre Dame and LSU losing to Iowa State both on Friday in the first round, then Michigan eliminating Tennessee in the second round. Saturday.
Arkansas stays after wins over New Mexico State and Vermont.
“The SEC is going to be crushed because of our tournament performances. Arkansas is the only team alive. I think we fought all year. It was such a chore. Such a grind. That’s the only thing I can tell you because the league was really, really good. We didn’t show it in the tournament,” Pearl said. “But what I will take away from this team is the fact that they brought it every night. They’ve won more road games than any SEC team in the league, and we have the best home court advantage in the league. That’s why we were able to finish. We finished 15-3 in the league. So champions.
Pearl’s statement did not sit well with college basketball fans and the media.
Bruce Pearl: “The SEC is going to be crushed because of our tournament performances, but I think we’ve been fighting all year. It’s so difficult.
So there is this.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) March 21, 2022
So the only remaining SEC team is the one that beat 13-seeded Vermont by four and then 12-seeded New Mexico State (despite only 14 shots) 😬😬😬
—Patrick Brown (@pbrown247) March 21, 2022
Bruce Pearl said the SEC was a chore this year. Greg Sanky banned the use of the SEC chant at all basketball games from that day forward.
— Groucho (@Gminoso) March 21, 2022
Bruce Pearl should worry less about the SEC’s reputation and more about why the team he’s coaching can’t execute a 3/4 court trap properly. https://t.co/gD7werUqu9
— Towards Morning (@younglefhander) March 21, 2022
Just curious if Bruce Pearl let everyone know he won 15 games in the second this year during his press conference?
— Jeffrey Martin 🐗 (@realJeffM) March 21, 2022
Auburn playing like that and winning as many games as they did in the SEC, doesn’t speak highly of the SEC. Pearl gets completely fucked tonight by Jimmy L
—Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 21, 2022