Auburn Tigers men’s basketball head coach Steven Pearl has yet to win over everyone on the Plains. Taking control of Auburn’s basketball program from his iconic father, Bruce Pearl, was always going to spark debate. The transition, especially amid recent struggles, has only intensified that scrutiny.
To be fair, Steven earned respect as a key assistant under Bruce. He played a significant role in assembling the 2024-25 roster, helping guide the Tigers to just their second Final Four appearance in program history last March and April. A promotion felt inevitable at some point. Perhaps even at Auburn under smoother circumstances. Instead, Bruce’s sudden retirement in September left the program in a difficult position, with few viable outside candidates ready to step in so close to the season.
Now, with Auburn sitting at 14-11 overall and 5-7 in conference play during the 2025-26 campaign, the temperature is rising. Paul Finebaum did not hold back, suggesting that a disappointing finish could land Steven squarely on the hot seat in East Central Alabama.
Finebaum also dismissed the notion that Steven is destined to mirror his father’s success.
“It’s gone very badly. Some are arguing that Steven Pearl ends up being his father. I don’t necessarily buy that. I don’t like what I’ve seen in this team. What’s happening right now, It doesn’t add up, and they are in serious danger. If you go from making the Final Four to not making the NCAA tournament, I don’t care what your last name is, Auburn fans are not going to be very happy,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on Monday.
Comparing Steven’s debut season to Bruce’s decades-long career feels premature. It is unclear who has seriously pushed that narrative since the season tipped off, especially in Finebaum’s presence.
There is also the reality that Bruce may have sidestepped a challenging situation. A second consecutive Final Four run was far from guaranteed. Former assistant Chad Prewett appeared to sense it early when he resigned last May, and Bruce’s exit followed not long after in the bigger picture.
Steven also inherited a roster that took a major hit when Emeka Opurum was ruled out for the season in December due to injury, leaving the team short on size. The warning signs were visible from the outset. Auburn’s recent success may have fueled optimism that was never fully grounded in the roster’s reality.
Paul Finebaum Rips Keyshawn Hall Suspension Decision
Finebaum was equally critical of Steven’s decision to suspend Keyshawn Hall over the weekend. The move stemmed from what Steven described as a failure to meet team “standards and expectations.”
“When you suspend a player, you don’t do it because you’re trying to win some sort of award. You do it because the player has clearly violated team policies to a point where you cannot tolerate it any longer. So, I’m not about to give him a parade because he kicked off his best player. It just tells me that the players weren’t listening to him,” Finebaum said.
The message from Finebaum was unmistakable. He is not sold on Steven Pearl’s leadership.
Still, with four of Auburn’s final six opponents ranked below them, there remains a path to steady the ship. A strong close could quickly shift the conversation. In college basketball, narratives can flip just as fast as a losing streak begins.