Louisville has reached out to Bruce Pearl, per report

Louisville is looking for a new head coach after parting ways with Chris Mack earlier this week.

One of the big names reportedly on the Cardinals’ wish list is current Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, who has the Tigers at No. 1 in the AP Poll.

Per insider Justin Hokanson, the Cardinals have reached out to Bruce Pearl’s representatives and the interest is real:

COMMENTARY

Louisville has reached out to the Bruce Pearl camp. The interest is real. The moment is now for Auburn's administration to fulfill Pearl’s wishlist, and it needs to happen yesterday.

On3+: https://t.co/krRO11tN66 pic.twitter.com/MCjNoOp2aT

— Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) January 27, 2022

Why would Pearl leave the No. 1 team in the country, a program he rebuilt, for another rebuilding project at Auburn? Per Hokanson’s tweet, it could be a play by Pearl’s camp to get Auburn to upgrade its basketball facilities.

Louisville is passionate about basketball. Auburn’s fan base certainly been one of the most intense in the SEC during Pearl’s tenure. Now we’ll see if the Auburn administration is willing to match that level of intensity. Keeping Pearl may rely on it.