In a week where tensions are running high across the SEC, Auburn assistant coach Steven Pearl took a route few expected-especially considering the stakes. With Alabama’s Charles Bediako in the middle of an eligibility battle that’s drawn national attention and sparked criticism from coaches across the country, Pearl offered something rare: understanding.
Bediako, whose status for the remainder of the season hangs in the balance, is currently eligible to play thanks to a second temporary restraining order issued against the NCAA. That means he’ll suit up for Alabama’s midweek clash with Texas A&M and potentially beyond, depending on the outcome of a preliminary injunction hearing in Tuscaloosa County.
All of this is unfolding just days before Auburn hosts Alabama in a rivalry game that always delivers fireworks. You’d expect some gamesmanship from the Tigers’ side-maybe even some public pushback, especially considering how much Auburn stands to gain from any disruption to the Crimson Tide’s roster. But when Steven Pearl spoke Monday at the Birmingham Tip-Off Club, his response was anything but adversarial.
"All Nate is trying to do is win basketball games, that’s what we’re all trying to do," Pearl said. "I can’t say whether that’s right or wrong, that’s not my place... He’s trying to put his team in the best position to win games, and I get that.”
That’s not just coach-speak. That’s a competitor recognizing the grind, even when it’s coming from across enemy lines.
What makes Pearl’s comments even more notable is the contrast with his own father, Bruce Pearl, Auburn’s longtime head coach. Bruce didn’t hold back recently, calling for Alabama to be banned from the NCAA Tournament over the Bediako situation. So for Steven to take a more composed, nuanced stance-just days before facing Alabama-is telling.
This isn’t just about sportsmanship. It’s about perspective.
Steven Pearl didn’t come out in full-throated defense of Nate Oats or the Crimson Tide, but he also didn’t pile on. And in a moment where it would’ve been easy to echo the outrage or throw fuel on the fire, he chose a different path. That’s not just refreshing-it’s rare.
The timing of all this adds another layer of intrigue. Saturday’s showdown at Neville Arena will mark the first time Oats and Steven Pearl face off as head coaches. And while the elder Pearl still leads the Tigers’ program, Steven is increasingly stepping into the spotlight, both on the bench and in moments like this.
The Iron Bowl of Basketball has evolved into one of college hoops’ most intense rivalries, and this weekend’s matchup promises to be another chapter in that growing legacy. But Steven Pearl’s comments this week serve as a reminder that even in the heat of competition, there’s room for respect.
In a sport where headlines are often dominated by controversy and conflict, it’s worth noting when a coach steps up and chooses to see the bigger picture. Pearl didn’t have to say what he did-but he did. And that says something.