Saturday’s Final Four game between Auburn and Florida will feature familiarity on multiple levels.

Not only is it a rematch of the two teams’ Feb. 8 meeting, but it’s another matchup between Bruce Pearl and Todd Golden, who worked together on Auburn’s staff from 2014-2016.

Golden was one of Pearl’s first assistant coaches when he became Auburn’s head coach, and since then Golden spent time as both an assistant and the head coach at San Francisco before landing at Florida.

Pearl made an appearance on the Paul Finebaum show Monday afternoon and was if it’d be weird to face a coach he’s been so close with in the Final Four.

“It is, because the relationship is that close,” Pearl said on the show. “If we have to play each other, let’s do it for a championship. So, I’m so proud of Todd and so happy for him.”

Pearl also said that for the last two months, he’s thought Florida is the best team in the country. Part of that two-month stretch for the Gators included beating Auburn in Neville Arena, one of the Tigers’ two home losses this season.

The rematch between Auburn and Florida in the Final Four is set to tip off at 5:09 p.m. Saturday. The game will be televised on CBS from the Alamodome in San Antonio.

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