For years, Bruce Pearl was a familiar — and often fiery — presence on the opposing sideline when Kentucky basketball was involved.
Across 21 seasons as a high-major head coach, including 17 years in the SEC at Tennessee and Auburn, Pearl regularly crossed paths with the Wildcats. His teams went 11–18 against Kentucky, with his final meeting leaving a lasting impression: Auburn’s 94–78 win at Rupp Arena last March.
Now, Pearl is back around the Kentucky program in a much different role.
After retiring from coaching in late September and turning Auburn’s program over to his son, Steven, the 65-year-old has joined CBS as a college basketball analyst. His first assignment comes Saturday at the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta, where he’ll call both games of the doubleheader alongside Brad Nessler, Bill Raftery, and sideline reporter Jenny Dell.
The marquee opener features Kentucky (7–4) against No. 22 St. John’s (7–3), a matchup layered with storylines — including Mark Pope squaring off against his former coach, Rick Pitino.
What stands out to Pearl
During a phone conversation Thursday night, Pearl emphasized pace as the starting point for Saturday’s matchup.
“Both teams like to run,” Pearl said. “So it really comes down to who’s better in transition.”
Defense will also be critical. Pearl believes both Kentucky and St. John’s have the potential to develop into elite defensive teams as the season progresses. Still, he pointed to shot-making as the ultimate swing factor.
“St. John’s has been making shots a little better recently,” Pearl said. “That’s going to be huge.”
When discussing Kentucky specifically, Pearl highlighted junior forward Mouhamed Dioubate as a key piece. Dioubate returned from a high ankle sprain last weekend and posted 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench in Kentucky’s win over Indiana.
“He’s athletic. He’s bouncy. He’s quick at his position,” Pearl said. “His physicality makes a difference.”
Pope vs. Pitino — again
Saturday will mark just the second time Pope has faced Pitino as a college head coach. Pope, a tri-captain on Kentucky’s 1996 national championship team under Pitino, previously coached against his former mentor in 2015, when Utah Valley lost to Louisville.
Despite the obvious storyline, Pearl downplayed the emotional side of the matchup.
“The preparation’s the same,” Pearl said, referencing his own experiences coaching against familiar faces — including Florida’s Todd Golden, whom Pearl coached alongside during the 2009 Maccabiah Games.
Why this game looms large for St. John’s
While Kentucky fans often view these games as résumé builders for the Wildcats, Pearl suggested the stakes may be even higher for St. John’s.
“It’s an important game for both teams,” Pearl said. “But it’s a really important game for St. John’s.”
Pearl cited the Big East’s lack of depth at the top this season. Outside of No. 5 UConn, quality nonconference wins are harder to come by. That makes opportunities like Saturday’s matchup especially valuable for Pitino’s team.
Only UConn and St. John’s currently appear in the AP Top 25. ESPN’s latest bracketology projects four Big East teams in the NCAA Tournament, compared to nine from the SEC.
St. John’s enters the game 0–3 in Quad 1 contests, while Kentucky stood at 1–4 in those games as of Thursday night.
A coach’s eye from the booth
As he settles into his new broadcasting role, Pearl says his goal is to bring viewers inside the game from a coach’s perspective.
“I want to put people on the bench with me,” Pearl said.
And when he offers criticism, Pearl hopes it’s the kind that carries over beyond the broadcast — the same observations teams might revisit later when breaking down film.
For Kentucky fans, it’s a familiar voice in an unfamiliar place — no longer plotting against the Wildcats, but breaking them down from the broadcast table.
