Bruce Pearl was seconds away from bringing Tennessee men’s basketball to heights it had never reached.

On March 28, 2010, Tennessee guard Scotty Hopson had two free throws as the Vols trailed 69-68 with 12 seconds left. After draining the first to tie the game, Hopson missed the second free throw, leading to Michigan State getting out into transition and drawing a foul. The Spartans hit one of two, but it was enough to stifle the Pearl-led Vols’ Final Four hopes.

When reminded of that game 15 years later, Pearl — now the head coach of No. 1 overall seed Auburn — still has regrets from that night in St. Louis.

“The head coach made a bad mistake,” Pearl recounted of himself. “I put my two bigs — I had both four and five on the free-throw, offensive free-throw set, Wayne Chism and Brian Williams. Scotty misses the second free throw. They get the rebound and the scramble, outlet it, get it down the floor, and we foul. They go to the line and make both and win the game.”

As the clock ran out, the TV camera immediately panned to Steven Pearl — Auburn’s now associate head coach and then Tennessee player — on the sideline doubled over in disappointment.

Now, both Pearls have another chance against Izzo, this time to take Auburn to its second ever Final Four against three-seed Michigan State.

When asked if there’s anything about this year’s matchup that reminds him of the game in 2010, Pearl took a second to ponder, but said it’s not something that has been on his mind much going into Sunday’s game.

However, he did bring up the fact that Tennessee shot over 50% from the field in that game, something many would say is required to beat the Spartans, according to Pearl.

When Izzo was asked about the 2010 meeting and how it relates to Sunday’s game, he pointed out a few of the things that decided Michigan State’s win 15 years ago.

“Free throws are going to be important. It’s one of our special teams things,” Izzo said. “Out of bounds plays, free throws, free throw blockouts, they matter. I think they mattered back then. We had a couple big plays that I remember, and they matter now.”

That win was merely another day for Izzo’s program, clinching one of Michigan State’s eight Final Four’s during his tenure as head coach. That pedigree led to Pearl calling Auburn the underdog going into Sunday’s game, despite the Tigers being the No. 1 overall seed.

Izzo didn’t contribute too much to that conversation, but said he’s happy to play the role of the favorite if that’s what Pearl wants.

“You get to this point, and there are no underdogs,” Izzo said. “If he wants to make us a favorite, I’m cool with that. If he wants to make us an underdog, I’ve been in that role before too.”

Regardless of who’s favored and who decides which team gets that distinction, Sunday will be another meeting between two of college basketball’s most successful head coaches.

And for Pearl and his son Steven, it’s an opportunity to right a wrong 15 years later.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m