Recently retired Auburn coach Bruce Pearl is joining TNT Sports as part of its college basketball studio show.
The show will feature host Adam Lefkoe, Pearl and former players Jalen Rose and Jamal Mashburn. The team also will work during the NCAA Men’s Tournament in TNT’s joint coverage with CBS Sports.
This is the first year that TNT has the rights to televise Big East and Big 12 games.
“Our studio shows have always had a certain DNA that is unique to TNT Sports, and we take great pride in assembling the right blend of personalities capable of extending that culture,” said Craig Barry, chief content officer for TNT Sports, in a news release.
“We believe we’ve found a distinctive balance with this college basketball team and we’re confident fans will be entertained by their perspectives, the storytelling and access they provide from their experiences in and around the game.”
Pearl is a four-time Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year and the 2024-25 national Coach of the Year. He announced his retirement from coaching on Sept. 22.
Last season, he guided the Tigers to a 32-6 record and an appearance in the Final Four, where they lost to eventual champion Florida 79-73 in the national semifinals. Auburn entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed. Pearl’s son, Steven, served under him as an assistant and moved into the head coaching role.
“I’ve long admired and deeply respected the way TNT Sports delivers the best studio shows in the industry, along with the way they treat everyone as family, and I could not be more excited to join the amazing team they’ve assembled to cover college basketball,” Pearl, 65, said. “The product has never been in better shape on the court and I’m going to bring the same passion I displayed as a coach to broadcasting. I can’t wait for the start of the season.”
The season tips off on TNT on Nov. 3 with coverage of the opener between Florida and Arizona, followed by the game between BYU and Villanova.
–Field Level Media
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