Bruce Pearl would have been terrible here.

Ohhenrytotfc

Redshirt
Dec 11, 2025
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Bruce Pearl had a great run at Auburn and I agree that he was a really good coach. The problem is that in order to get Bruce Pearl here it would have cost UK a ton, on top of that I always looked at Pearl as Calipari-lite. In fact Pearl was one of the only coaches Calipari consistently out coached. So getting rid of Calipari for a lesser form of Calipari would have only solidified ourselves into mediocrity and would have been a lot tougher situation because we would have had a lot harder time getting rid of him. At least if Pope fails there is an option to get rid of him, move on and reset. The noose of the contract with Pearl would have been impossible to wiggle out of, and would have inhibited our ability to change and move on.
He consistently outcoached Pitino. Beat him at Umass, Memphis, NBA, Kentucky and Arkansas
 

Mike-D

Heisman
Jul 14, 2001
50,400
75,467
113
Pearl is a really good coach, but his record in march with his most talented teams is disappointing. I don't think the fan base could handle more great teams underperforming in march.

Have you seen our tournament run this decade?
 
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*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
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Pearl would have absolutely killed it here. Killed it. I have no idea what you're talking about, but you seem to be doing mental gymnastics to convince yourself that Pear would not have slayed here.
His argument is that he lost to Barnes, Scheyer, and Golden and that he left because he couldn’t keep up when he retired after a final 4 while losing to final 4 and championship level coaches. Genius arguments.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

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This is what an ignorant bigot looks like, folks ^
There is no sense arguing with one of their 300 account. It’s so easy to see how they name them. It’s like the same 5 people who keep getting banned, then coming back with a stupid and what they think is clever moniker. Then after 200 posts they out themselves yet again.
 

BBNinSCar

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Apr 23, 2013
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Take a look at the coaches at the top of the game right now. Golden, May, Lloyd, Oats-everyone of these coaches were identified as winners at smaller schools and hired by programs who recognized their potential.
Josh Schertz is the winningest coach on any level over the past 10 seasons. Our guy is a few hours away at SLU. Yet, most of our fan base can’t get past Bruce Pearl or Donovan or Pitino.
I don’t have much faith that the UK admin is any smarter than our average fan and would make a Pearl type hire.
 

Vek96

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Bruce Pearl had a great run at Auburn and I agree that he was a really good coach. The problem is that in order to get Bruce Pearl here it would have cost UK a ton, on top of that I always looked at Pearl as Calipari-lite. In fact Pearl was one of the only coaches Calipari consistently out coached. So getting rid of Calipari for a lesser form of Calipari would have only solidified ourselves into mediocrity and would have been a lot tougher situation because we would have had a lot harder time getting rid of him. At least if Pope fails there is an option to get rid of him, move on and reset. The noose of the contract with Pearl would have been impossible to wiggle out of, and would have inhibited our ability to change and move on.
Didn’t Pearl beat Calipari and his ten 5 stars in the Regional Finals in 2018?

Personally, I think Pearl would kill it here. I think that ship has probably sailed. Bruce isn’t a spring chicken, and I doubt he really wants to work that hard anymore.
 

Captain Coy

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He consistently outcoached Pitino. Beat him at Umass, Memphis, NBA, Kentucky and Arkansas
Yeah, he did have Pitino's number too. Calipari was good against the old guard. It was the young and innovative coaches where he didn't stand a chance against.
 

Captain Coy

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He literally retired after a final 4, do you even think before you type?
He didn't retire right after, he waited until the first practice to retire so his son had to take over, giving Auburn no chance to respond. Which is exactly what he would have done at UK. My point about this year's NCAA tournament, where CBS replaced Jay Wright for Pearl, was one of the biggest downgrades of all-time. I acknowledged in the original post he's a very good coach. We would have been good with Pearl here, top 25, maybe even top 10 some years. But he would have held UK hostage over his contract, he would have been just good enough not to fire, but never a threat for a championship. We would have been mediocre and we would have had to deal with it for 7 years instead of 3 with Pope. That's not even factoring in all of his sanctimonious BS that we would have had to endure, but that's a totally different issue entirely.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

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He didn't retire right after, he waited until the first practice to retire so his son had to take over, giving Auburn no chance to respond. Which is exactly what he would have done at UK. My point about this year's NCAA tournament, where CBS replaced Jay Wright for Pearl, was one of the biggest downgrades of all-time. I acknowledged in the original post he's a very good coach. We would have been good with Pearl here, top 25, maybe even top 10 some years. But he would have held UK hostage over his contract, he would have been just good enough not to fire, but never a threat for a championship. We would have been mediocre and we would have had to deal with it for 7 years instead of 3 with Pope. That's not even factoring in all of his sanctimonious BS that we would have had to endure, but that's a totally different issue entirely.
Did he coach another team after that final 4? I mean come on now. Whatever you think about his TV personality has no bearing on this at all, and the contract stuff is just your opinion not based on any facts at all. He would have us competing for the SEC and long tourney runs yearly with the resources we have to work with. That’s all that matters. He is John Wooden compared to Pope.
 

UKBB4Ever

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Didn’t Pearl beat Calipari and his ten 5 stars in the Regional Finals in 2018?

Personally, I think Pearl would kill it here. I think that ship has probably sailed. Bruce isn’t a spring chicken, and I doubt he really wants to work that hard anymore.
Those one offs are just that. Makes for good bar stool arguments but nothing else.

Want an example? BCG beat Pearl at Tenn. and almost beat him again after PP got hurt and playing Perry Stevenson at center.

Is BCG better than Pearl?

Body of work. What did Pearl start with at UT? What did he start with at Auburn?

He had to build. And before instant building thru the portal and NIL was a thing.

I’m a Pearl fan. But not a huge proponent of his coaching UK. Still, I’m convinced Pearl would have us contending for a FF in his first season.

Almost any coach is better than Pope. Only a handful would put us back on the map quickly.

Pearl is one of those.
 

Monday Nitro

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I actually wish he came here because I can't stand the guy and it would be fun to watch the loons of the fanbase put yard signs on his lawn, lol.
 
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Jtf2217

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Apr 20, 2024
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Pearl never had close to Cal talent when he was at UT. The fact that I hated to play that sweaty bastards teams even with the John walls Anthony Davis's, Karl Towns's of the world that's coaching when you can take less talent and give your more talented opponent fits.
Talent 100% equal pearl coaches circles around Cal 10/10 times.
 

Im The Village Idiot

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MAGA Bruce should shut up and dribble
This comment is silly for many reasons.

First off, the coach doesn’t dribble. The players do that.

I’ve never had a problem hiring any coach because of their politics — Joe B. Hall and Calipari were both outspoken left of center guys and it never bothered me anymore than Bruce Pearl being right of center. Never understood the idea of villainizing people because of their views. There was a time when people looked at what they had in common and would just agree to disagree on things like that. I guess such a view isn’t attractive anymore when you could just call someone “woke”, “libtard”, “MAGATs”, or “fascists” rather than actually understanding the “why” behind the “what.”

That said, Bruce Pearl is almost 70 years old. At this point, I’d rather pass and go get a young up and coming guy like Jai Lucas.
 
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cornbreadnmilk

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This comment is silly for many reasons. I’ve never had a problem hiring any coach because of their politics — Joe B. Hall and Calipari were both outspoken left of center guys and it never bothered me anymore than Bruce Pearl being right of center. Never understood the idea of villainizing people because of their views. There was a time when people looked at what they had in common and would just agree to disagree on things like that. I guess such a view isn’t attractive anymore when you could just call someone “woke”, “libtard”, “MAGATs”, or “fascists” rather than actually understanding the “why” behind the “what.”

That said, Bruce Pearl is almost 70 years old. At this point, I’d rather pass and go get a young up and coming guy like Jai Lucas.
It's frustrating to me right now that I don't see a lot of realistic great choices right now. I keep seeing Lucas mentioned but he has proved nothing.
 
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Anomynous

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May 2, 2026
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This comment is silly for many reasons.

First off, the coach doesn’t dribble. The players do that.

I’ve never had a problem hiring any coach because of their politics — Joe B. Hall and Calipari were both outspoken left of center guys and it never bothered me anymore than Bruce Pearl being right of center. Never understood the idea of villainizing people because of their views. There was a time when people looked at what they had in common and would just agree to disagree on things like that. I guess such a view isn’t attractive anymore when you could just call someone “woke”, “libtard”, “MAGATs”, or “fascists” rather than actually understanding the “why” behind the “what.”

That said, Bruce Pearl is almost 70 years old. At this point, I’d rather pass and go get a young up and coming guy like Jai Lucas.
Great! Maybe not you but plenty of hypocrites have no issue with MAGA Bruce's "outspokenness" but tell people like LeBron to "shut up and dribble." Way to miss the point though.