Bruce Pearl

Bluedog1

Senior
Jan 4, 2012
756
777
93
Given the probability that Pope will be gone after next year. Say that we cant get Donavon or the Iowa state coach , or Golden or name any hot names that we all might want. What is your thoughts on getting Bruce Pearl? I actually kind of like the idea. He is a great marketer , very enthusiastic, can coach an entertaining style, and he can recruit. He has never been to a program like Kentucky that should be in the hunt every year. I dont like how he pulled the situation with his son down at Auburn, but he could get us relevant again very quickly I think.

Thoughts?
 

UK4Life#9

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
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Reading No GIF by Manuel V. Johnson


Too old, next.
 
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jedwar

Heisman
Moderator
Dec 30, 2002
19,583
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The time to get Pearl was when we hired Pope. I never felt like he’d have more than a 4-5 year run here, but would give us time to look at other coaches after. Maybe Pope would have been more qualified down the road. But, that ship has sailed!
Yep. Should have been him. Unmatched passion and energy for at least 5 years. If you get Auburn to 2 FFs then you're a great coach.
 

BigBlue1992

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
1,960
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With what he did at Tennessee and Auburn, Bruce was more than capable of winning a title here.

A little off topic but yahoo is reporting that those close to Todd Golden want him to pass up on UNC this year for UK next year. Kinda interesting.
 

MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
10,740
21,047
66
Carnival barking jackass in a big orange blazer. Losing record against BCG. Completely owned by Cal. Several early flameouts as high seeds. If his UK tenure began like his Auburn tenure we’d demand firing after two years. Teams play hard and the opposite of smart with poor shot selection. Has recruited his fair share of turds, criminals and punks. I’m just not a fan.

But, if he was hired, I would support the team and hope his UK teams resembled his last Auburn team more than all of his UT teams and most of his Auburn teams.
 
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TTTblue24

All-Conference
Feb 1, 2004
3,833
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If pope is gone after next season and we strike out on the goldens & oats type names or those whom we think get the first calls, then Bruce is definitely the guy. I wanted him soon as cal left but Bruce could bridge the gap to the next guy who would be an up & comer that’s had time to “season” before coming here ie lucas or someone like that.

The bigger issue with Pearl is the political positions he’s taken and some may not be fond of that, I don’t exactly follow all that but I know he’s pretty conservative type views I’m told. Another thing is the new AD, if it’s Hill (please no) then he’ll do whatever Mitch tells him to do is my guess.
 
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Mar 9, 2015
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Pearl could deliver everything this university and fan base wants/needs, Believe Pearl stepped down at Auburn to pursue a political career or possibly a lobbyist. I like Pearl as a coach but the mixing of politics & sports would look likely be extremely toxic.
 
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LexCats859

Sophomore
Jan 14, 2026
144
191
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I think the Pearl window has passed. Better to get someone younger and not get a "bridge coach". Personally, I think the dude has embarrassed himself on TV the last couple months with the Miami stuff.
 

senonesy

All-American
Nov 30, 2017
4,052
8,197
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Given the probability that Pope will be gone after next year. Say that we cant get Donavon or the Iowa state coach , or Golden or name any hot names that we all might want. What is your thoughts on getting Bruce Pearl? I actually kind of like the idea. He is a great marketer , very enthusiastic, can coach an entertaining style, and he can recruit. He has never been to a program like Kentucky that should be in the hunt every year. I dont like how he pulled the situation with his son down at Auburn, but he could get us relevant again very quickly I think.

Thoughts?
“Probability that Pope will be gone after next year” Jeez this board 😂
 

LexCats859

Sophomore
Jan 14, 2026
144
191
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Again, I think it's funny you call him a great marketer when he and his son have seen their public images go to crap in the last couple months. (Even tho he was already controversial before)
 

Coach777

All-Conference
Dec 19, 2022
461
1,146
93
With what he did at Tennessee and Auburn, Bruce was more than capable of winning a title here.

A little off topic but yahoo is reporting that those close to Todd Golden want him to pass up on UNC this year for UK next year. Kinda interesting.
I like Golden but I can't find anything on Yahoo about. I have doubts it would be true. Can you provide the link?
 
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Blue Jesus

Senior
Aug 24, 2013
388
543
93
Given the probability that Pope will be gone after next year. Say that we cant get Donavon or the Iowa state coach , or Golden or name any hot names that we all might want. What is your thoughts on getting Bruce Pearl? I actually kind of like the idea. He is a great marketer , very enthusiastic, can coach an entertaining style, and he can recruit. He has never been to a program like Kentucky that should be in the hunt every year. I dont like how he pulled the situation with his son down at Auburn, but he could get us relevant again very quickly I think.

Thoughts?
Hire a guy who would be 68 in his first season who has already retired once, what could go wrong
 

BigBlue1992

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
1,960
3,596
81
I like Golden but I can't find anything on Yahoo about. I have doubts it would be true. Can you provide the link?

Hopefully this will get it. It’s not the exact same one I read earlier but if you keep scrolling it talks about UK likely opening up next year.

It’s under the headline “Would Todd Golden or Nate Oats consider leaving for UNC basketball?” The one I read earlier mentioned some names close to Golden recommending him to pass up UNC for UK. This one doesn’t talk about that.
 
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KFuqua

All-Conference
Oct 24, 2001
2,155
2,516
113
Given the probability that Pope will be gone after next year. Say that we cant get Donavon or the Iowa state coach , or Golden or name any hot names that we all might want. What is your thoughts on getting Bruce Pearl? I actually kind of like the idea. He is a great marketer , very enthusiastic, can coach an entertaining style, and he can recruit. He has never been to a program like Kentucky that should be in the hunt every year. I dont like how he pulled the situation with his son down at Auburn, but he could get us relevant again very quickly I think.

Thoughts?
Never! Should never even be considered!
 
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sk73

All-Conference
Feb 16, 2013
3,183
3,234
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Given the probability that Pope will be gone after next year. Say that we cant get Donavon or the Iowa state coach , or Golden or name any hot names that we all might want. What is your thoughts on getting Bruce Pearl? I actually kind of like the idea. He is a great marketer , very enthusiastic, can coach an entertaining style, and he can recruit. He has never been to a program like Kentucky that should be in the hunt every year. I dont like how he pulled the situation with his son down at Auburn, but he could get us relevant again very quickly I think.

Thoughts?
He had Tennessee and Auburn on equal footing with UK while he was at each school. He is a very good coach. I don't want him. He is 66 now and another year of Pope makes him 67 in his first year here. If we are going to hire people to only short contracts go after Kelvin Sampson. Better coach and not a blowhard.
 

JHR1932

Sophomore
Nov 27, 2025
117
193
42
Given the probability that Pope will be gone after next year. Say that we cant get Donavon or the Iowa state coach , or Golden or name any hot names that we all might want. What is your thoughts on getting Bruce Pearl? I actually kind of like the idea. He is a great marketer , very enthusiastic, can coach an entertaining style, and he can recruit. He has never been to a program like Kentucky that should be in the hunt every year. I dont like how he pulled the situation with his son down at Auburn, but he could get us relevant again very quickly I think.

Thoughts?
Loooove it
 

Bluesbrother

All-American
May 23, 2002
4,603
6,534
113
Given the probability that Pope will be gone after next year. Say that we cant get Donavon or the Iowa state coach , or Golden or name any hot names that we all might want. What is your thoughts on getting Bruce Pearl? I actually kind of like the idea. He is a great marketer , very enthusiastic, can coach an entertaining style, and he can recruit. He has never been to a program like Kentucky that should be in the hunt every year. I dont like how he pulled the situation with his son down at Auburn, but he could get us relevant again very quickly I think.

Thoughts?
Pearl reminds me of skid marks in tightie whities. Hell no, JMO.
 

Phil_The_Music2

Heisman
Nov 29, 2010
3,194
12,906
113
Man it's been years since we've had a Bruce Pearl to Kentucky thread. Thank goodness he hasn't been forgotten!
 

Broker

All-Conference
Aug 29, 2012
1,634
1,623
113
Given the probability that Pope will be gone after next year. Say that we cant get Donavon or the Iowa state coach , or Golden or name any hot names that we all might want. What is your thoughts on getting Bruce Pearl? I actually kind of like the idea. He is a great marketer , very enthusiastic, can coach an entertaining style, and he can recruit. He has never been to a program like Kentucky that should be in the hunt every year. I dont like how he pulled the situation with his son down at Auburn, but he could get us relevant again very quickly I think.

Thoughts?
I think the chance of us getting Pearl is less than us getting Golden as head coach with Donavon & Iowa St coach as assistants. Bruce has retired and finished with coaching. We need to think of someone other than Bruce Pearl as a bridge coach. Hopefully our new AD can and will hire us a first class, first rate college basketball coach.
 

Broker

All-Conference
Aug 29, 2012
1,634
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With what he did at Tennessee and Auburn, Bruce was more than capable of winning a title here.

A little off topic but yahoo is reporting that those close to Todd Golden want him to pass up on UNC this year for UK next year. Kinda interesting.
With NIL leveling the playing court, Bruce Pearl would have no better chance of winning a title here any more than he did at UT and Auburn. He was a good coach but not a magician. There will be 10 to 15 teams capable of winning a title every year that increases the odds of winning a title exponentially more difficult than it was 15 or 20 years.
 

Broker

All-Conference
Aug 29, 2012
1,634
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Why don’t Bruce move to Israel
Because he is an American citizen, born & raisd in the USA. Pretty sick statement you posted. Antisemitism has zero place on our board. It is basketball not religion or politics.
 

BlueSince92

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
10,459
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I would take Bruce Pearl in a heartbeat over Donovan, Otzelberger, Golden, and most of the other people you could name.
 

Ash Williams

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
8,047
26,069
113
Given the probability that Pope will be gone after next year. Say that we cant get Donavon or the Iowa state coach , or Golden or name any hot names that we all might want. What is your thoughts on getting Bruce Pearl? I actually kind of like the idea. He is a great marketer , very enthusiastic, can coach an entertaining style, and he can recruit. He has never been to a program like Kentucky that should be in the hunt every year. I dont like how he pulled the situation with his son down at Auburn, but he could get us relevant again very quickly I think.

Thoughts?
I Dare You Do It GIF
 
Jul 6, 2025
2,140
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The time to get Pearl was when we hired Pope. I never felt like he’d have more than a 4-5 year run here, but would give us time to look at other coaches after. Maybe Pope would have been more qualified down the road. But, that ship has sailed!

This. Pearl was perfect hire. Would only be here a few years and would've been great. Given us just enough time to identify one of these up and comers.

Instead we got what we got and Mitch got a sweet going away present.