Paul Finebaum sends strong message on Bruce Pearl’s legacy with Auburn basketball

It’s been a historic year for the Auburn basketball program, with the most impressive non-conference resume in college basketball, only two losses, seven weeks straight at the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll, and the list goes on.

In his eleventh season on the Plains, there’s no doubt that head coach Bruce Pearl has absolutely transformed the Auburn basketball program and created a thriving, nationally-known culture around the program that is one of the best in the nation. He is the most winningest coach in Auburn basketball history, and has coached both of the winningest players in program history in Jaylin Williams and most recently, Dylan Cardwell.

Earlier this week, analyst Paul Finebaum shared his thoughts on Pearl’s legacy, stating that he has cemented himself near the top of the list of greatest coaches on the Plains and deserves a place on Auburn’s Mt. Rushmore of coaches.

“I think you’d be hard-pressed to find very many (coaches),” said Finebaum on Cubelic in the Morning, per Saturday Down South. “Certainly Pat Dye and Shug Jordan are always at the top of their list. Mt. Rushmore has 4 people on it, I think there’s room for Bruce Pearl on Auburn’s Mt. Rushmore.”

What Pearl has already accomplished is enough to earn him that spot, but the last piece of the puzzle for the Tigers’ head coach is to finally secure a national championship after getting so close in 2019.

“National championships are where it’s at. In basketball, a Final Four will probably take you farther than anything else. There’s nothing quite like it in college football,” Finebaum admitted. “Losing the national title in football does not carry very well. Just ask the coach in Tuscaloosa this morning.

“But a Final Four, it’s a conversation piece. And if Bruce Pearl or Nate Oats never win a national championship, the day they leave their job it will still be ‘Bruce Pearl, whose brilliant career at Auburn was highlighted by a national championship run in 2019 and let’s say 2025.’ Football it’s more (heavy on legacies).”

Auburn basketball returns to action Tuesday night against Texas A&M on the road.