‘Joke!’: Bruce Pearl erupts over officiating during postgame radio interview after Bama loss
Bruce Pearl wasn’t pleased with officiating down the stretch of Auburn’s 90-85 overtime loss to Alabama in Tuscaloosa Wednesday night, and it boiled over during the Tigers’ postgame radio show.
READ: No. 2 Alabama wins OT thriller over Auburn, wins SEC regular season title
The exchange was caught on Auburn’s “Courtside Cam,” with Pearl upset about starters Johni Broome, Jaylin Williams and Allen Flanigan fouling out.
“We should have won the game,” Pearl said, before he erupted. “Very, very disappointing. You know, obviously, they made some plays. We had a hard time staying in front of them, at the end of the day. I’m just sick and tired of our guys getting smashed down there! Smashed!”
Announcers asked Pearl about the final possession during regulation and his message to the Auburn players. “They played hard, played well,” Pearl responded. “If that’s the number one team in the country, you know, come on the road in a hostile environment. But we needed that one to get in the NCAA [tournament], and we didn’t get it.”
Pearl then referenced Tiger reserve center Dylan Cardwell going down with an injury after a collision with a Crimson Tide player late in the game, noting he likely won’t play against Tennessee on Saturday. Pearl said he thought Cardwell was fouled.
Announcers asked Pearl what Saturday represents now that the Tigers face a must-win scenario to boost their tournament resumé. The coach answered before losing his cool again and leaving the broadcast.
“We’ll get ready to play Tennessee,” Pearl said. “We were incredibly outmanned at the end. Three, four guys on the bench in foul trouble…Joke!”
Pearl then walked off of the Coleman Coliseum floor, as Alabama celebrated their regular season SEC championship and the Crimson Tide student section cheered his exit.
Auburn committed 29 fouls to Alabama’s 20, with the Tigers hitting 15 of 24 free throws while the Tide made 24 of 31 at the stripe.
The Tigers (19-11, 9-8), set a new season-high in 3-pointers made (12) and overall percentage (12-for-20), while also out-rebounding the Tide 39-38.
After a 15-0 undefeated home season, the first since they went 19-0 in 2010-11, Alabama became outright regular-season Southeastern Conference champions.
READ: Rewinding No. 2 Alabama’s SEC-clinching, 90-85, overtime win over Auburn