By now, you all know the story. Tennessee basketball hired Bruce Pearl in 2005, and he became the most popular figure almost overnight. Then, six years later, the Vols fired him while the NCAA gave him a three-year show-cause penalty because he lied about a barbecue in a violation that’s no longer a violation.
Then, three years later, Auburn hired him immediately after his show-cause penalty ended.
Well, now entering his fourth year as Auburn’s head coach, he has now been away from Tennessee basketball for a longer period than he was actually there.
And after six straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the Vols have only made one the past six years, two NIT appearances, and are in the midst of missing three straight postseasons altogether.