Bruce Pearl: ‘I Think Tennessee Fans Will Cheer For Us’
Image: USA Today Network
By Cody McClure
Bruce Pearl apparently believes that Tennessee fans will be cheering for Auburn when the Tigers take on Creighton in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Tennessee and Auburn are playing their first and second round games at the same site, Kentucky’s Rupp Arena in Lexington.
According to Ryan Schumpert of Rocky Top Insider, Pearl said today when asked about there being a lot of Tennessee fans in the building:
"I had thought about that a little bit. I think because Tennessee and Auburn are in different regions and because Tennessee and Auburn have played so competitively against one another -- because Coach Barnes and I have got a very close relationship and because I used to be the Tennessee coach and it was great to be a Tennessee Vol back in the -- I think Tennessee fans will cheer for us, and I hope they do."
This one is surely to be divisive.
Is Pearl correct? To some extent, yes. There will be some Tennessee fans who pull for him and/or the SEC in general.
But as a majority? I doubt it. I’d say most Tennessee fans will not be pulling for Auburn.
How do you feel about it?