Bruce Pearl enjoying special trip to Israel with Auburn basketball team

This is bigger than basketball for Bruce Pearl.

The Auburn head coach is in Israel with his team on a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many involved. The Tigers are playing some exhibition games against Israeli national teams. On Tuesday, they beat the Israel U-20 national team 117-56.

Auburn will play the Israel All-Star Select Team on Sunday and finish the trip playing the Israel National Team on Monday.

But for Pearl, the trip has been about the sights and history of the country.

“Our kids got a chance to go the Mount of Olives, to walk in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus walked,” an emotional Pearl said. “Today we went to Bethlehem and saw where Jesus was born. It’s just a wonderful experience.”

“It’s emotional for me. When they were playing the Star Spangled Banner in Israel, I was just so proud to represent our country.”@coachbrucepearl and @AuburnMBB are on the trip of a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/foV1gceStg

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) August 3, 2022

Auburn won the SEC regular-season title under Pearl and finished 28-6. The Tigers were eliminated in the Round of 32 after a 79-61 loss to Miami. He has a 166-97 record at in eight seasons at Auburn with a Final Four appearance in 2019.