What Bruce Pearl said after Auburn’s crucial win over Mizzou
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Bruce Pearl met with the media following Auburn’s dominant victory over Mizzou Tuesday night, 89-56.
Pearl’s Tigers were exorcising some demons with this one. Missouri was held to just 56 points, their 2nd fewest on the season thus far. Auburn also shot 50% from range and just under 50% from the field while Missouri struggled to crack 30%. The Tigers also vastly outrebounded the visiting Tigers by a margin of 22.
All around it was one of Auburn’s most complete performances on the year. In Pearl’s eyes, the Tigers won “every position” Tuesday night.
Bruce Pearl: “We literally won every position tonight.”
— Nathan King (@NathanKing247) February 15, 2023
It helps when you’re shooting as red hot from deep as the Tigers were, especially KD Johnson. Auburn was 9-18 from range, though to Pearl it felt like they couldn’t miss.
It was Auburn’s best 3-point shooting night of the season.
Auburn HC Bruce Pearl on the 3-point shooting night: “We had nine. It felt like we had 19. It was like, I can’t believe it… We got open shots. The ball moved really well.”
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) February 15, 2023
This is a big win for Auburn for a few reasons. It moves them into a better potential seed for the SEC Tournament, snaps a 3-game losing streak and affirms their case as a team that can be dangerous in the coming weeks. Another loss and the Tigers fall in the SEC standings.
Pearl agreed. He said he didn’t like talking about must-wins, but Tuesday night was about as close as it gets.
#Auburn HC Bruce Pearl: “Well, we played really well tonight. I don’t like having to talk about this being a must-win. … But we’ve got a chance to finish tied for 3rd or 4th after tonight.”
He adds that, had the outcome been different, they could’ve been 8th or 9th.
— Adam Cole (@colereporter) February 15, 2023
Here’s more from Pearl’s postgame press conference.
Bruce Pearl: “Our guys are tired. … You look at the road that we’ve had. … Those are great teams, physical teams. … It was a tough couple days. They’ll get the day off tomorrow, and they’ve earned it.”
— Richard Silva (@Rich_Silva18) February 15, 2023
K.D. Johnson on Bruce Pearl calling this Auburn’s biggest game of the season: “We got this win for him.”
— Nathan King (@NathanKing247) February 15, 2023
Auburn HC Bruce Pearl: “If we hold teams to under 73 points, we’re 14-1. So we said, ‘Can we hold Missouri to under 73? If we do, we’ll win the game.’ It’s not often that you can give your guys a guarantee like that.”
Auburn held Missouri to 56 tonight
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) February 15, 2023
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
