Current Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl is one of the very few former Tennessee Vols head coaches who is still a popular figure in Knoxville. That's because no one on Rocky Top actually wanted to see Pearl fired in 2011.

The No. 7 Vols (17-2) face the No. 1 Tigers (17-1) and coach Bruce Pearl, who coached Tennessee from 2005-11. Pearl, of course, has turned around the Auburn basketball program since taking over in 2014.

Bruce Pearl and top-ranked Auburn are 2-0 without star forward Johni Broome, who hopes to make his return on Saturday night.

What Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said during his postgame press conference after his No. 1-ranked Tigers rallied in the final minute to beat No. 6 Tennessee 53-51 at Neville Arena Saturday night: Opening Statement “You know I got asked by Andy during the pregame show,