Bruce Pearl has the utmost confidence in his Auburn guards to handle their business inside the paint. And the 11-year Tigers head coach isn’t afraid to let the world know it. Pearl proved that following Friday’s 62-57 win over eighth-seeded Ole Miss in the quarterfinals of the 2025 SEC Tournament.

ESPN might want to think twice before inviting Auburn coach Bruce Pearl back on its set for a postgame interview. On Friday afternoon, Auburn defeated Ole Miss in a SEC Tournament thriller. Johni Broome led the charge for the Tigers with 23 points.

The enthusiasm from Auburn’s charismatic head coach comes after the Tigers earned a five-point win to start the SEC tournament, largely due to their defense. They held the Rebels to a season-low 57 points and 37.7% shooting from the field.