Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Southern Indiana (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (1992–2001)
1992–93 Southern Indiana 22–7 14–4 2nd NCAA D–II Regional 3rd Place
1993–94 Southern Indiana 28–4 16–2 1st NCAA D–II Runner-up
1994–95 Southern Indiana 29–4 15–3 3rd NCAA D–II Champions
1995–96 Southern Indiana 25–4 18–2 1st NCAA D–II Sweet Sixteen
1996–97 Southern Indiana 23–5 16–4 T–1st NCAA D–II First Round
1997–98 Southern Indiana 27–6 16–4 3rd NCAA D–II Sweet Sixteen
1998–99 Southern Indiana 26–6 18–4 2nd NCAA D–II Sweet Sixteen
1999–00 Southern Indiana 25–6 17–3 2nd NCAA D–II Sweet Sixteen
2000–01 Southern Indiana 26–4 18–2 1st NCAA D–II First Round
Southern Indiana: 231–46 (.834) 148–28 (.841)
Milwaukee (Horizon League) (2001–2005)
2001–02 Milwaukee 16–13 11–5 3rd
2002–03 Milwaukee 24–8 13–3 2nd NCAA First Round
2003–04 Milwaukee 20–11 13–3 1st NIT First Round
2004–05 Milwaukee 26–6 14–2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Milwaukee: 86–38 (.694) 51–13 (.797)
Tennessee (Southeastern Conference) (2005–2011)
2005–06 Tennessee 22–8 12–4 1st (East) NCAA Second Round
2006–07 Tennessee 24–11 10–6 2nd (East) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2007–08 Tennessee 31–5 14–2 1st (East) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2008–09 Tennessee 21–13 10–6 T–1st (East) NCAA First Round
2009–10 Tennessee 28–9 11–5 3rd (East) NCAA Elite Eight
2010–11 Tennessee 19–15 8–8 5th (East) NCAA Second Round
Tennessee: 145–61 (.704) 65–31 (.677)
Auburn (Southeastern Conference) (2014–present)
2014–15 Auburn 15–20 4–14 13th
2015–16 Auburn 11–20 5–13 13th
2016–17 Auburn 18–14 7–11 11th
No losing seasons. Ever. EVER. Until he gets to AU. Post season play 94.7% of the seasons he's coached (18 of 19).
It's not Bruce Pearl. It's whatever s***ty curse is on AU and its men's athletics. Bruce didn't suddenly forget how to coach. He didn't forget how to win. He just stepped in it when he came to AU. That's why perspective is very important here. Personally, I hope we're not stupid and run the man off. That would be a tragedy, as we'll never hire another coach as good as he is, and certainly not a better recruiter.
I know --- he failed his first two years. He tried a quick fix and it didn't work. Grad transfers and JUCO players didn't work out. He reset and went the traditional route and started building the program. He already has more 5* signed to AU than AU has had in its history. They say in football for every freshman you start it's a game you lose. Unless you're signing the high level one-and-done types, the same is compounded in basketball. Barkley said it best: "They're young. Young and dumb. And they play dumb."
He's right. They're still playing like they're on an AAU team and it obviously shows. That's on Bruce to coach up, but don't act like we're so full of one-and-done talent that only Kentucky stands in our way. We have good talent. Great scoring talent even. But they have to learn to play as a team. When your senior leadership comes from TJ Dunans (JUCO transfer) and Ronnie Johnson (1 year guy), that doesn't really lend itself to stability. Have any of you seen leadership from these guys?
I remember when Carl Lawson was a freshman he got up in a DB's face when the DB was acting stupid. He was an instant leader and a guy that came to AU originally, not transferring in from somewhere else. I believe you'll see a leader or two develop from our current crop of freshman. That these guys all chose to come to AU first means something, and you'll see that translate to the court over time.
Seriously. Four freshman provided the lion's share of scoring this year. If that doesn't give you optimism for next year you're just not paying attention. I'm disappointed. Last night was a huge let down, but I still watched. I always do. Even if we suck. Well, we don't now and we're getting better. Last year we were an 11 win team. We lost scorers and gained freshman and won 18 this year. Next year I believe we'll see tremendous improvement. If not, then we can start the weeping and gnashing of teeth, but to do so now is short-sighted and arrogant, especially given what AU is as a basketball program.
Southern Indiana (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (1992–2001)
1992–93 Southern Indiana 22–7 14–4 2nd NCAA D–II Regional 3rd Place
1993–94 Southern Indiana 28–4 16–2 1st NCAA D–II Runner-up
1994–95 Southern Indiana 29–4 15–3 3rd NCAA D–II Champions
1995–96 Southern Indiana 25–4 18–2 1st NCAA D–II Sweet Sixteen
1996–97 Southern Indiana 23–5 16–4 T–1st NCAA D–II First Round
1997–98 Southern Indiana 27–6 16–4 3rd NCAA D–II Sweet Sixteen
1998–99 Southern Indiana 26–6 18–4 2nd NCAA D–II Sweet Sixteen
1999–00 Southern Indiana 25–6 17–3 2nd NCAA D–II Sweet Sixteen
2000–01 Southern Indiana 26–4 18–2 1st NCAA D–II First Round
Southern Indiana: 231–46 (.834) 148–28 (.841)
Milwaukee (Horizon League) (2001–2005)
2001–02 Milwaukee 16–13 11–5 3rd
2002–03 Milwaukee 24–8 13–3 2nd NCAA First Round
2003–04 Milwaukee 20–11 13–3 1st NIT First Round
2004–05 Milwaukee 26–6 14–2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Milwaukee: 86–38 (.694) 51–13 (.797)
Tennessee (Southeastern Conference) (2005–2011)
2005–06 Tennessee 22–8 12–4 1st (East) NCAA Second Round
2006–07 Tennessee 24–11 10–6 2nd (East) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2007–08 Tennessee 31–5 14–2 1st (East) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2008–09 Tennessee 21–13 10–6 T–1st (East) NCAA First Round
2009–10 Tennessee 28–9 11–5 3rd (East) NCAA Elite Eight
2010–11 Tennessee 19–15 8–8 5th (East) NCAA Second Round
Tennessee: 145–61 (.704) 65–31 (.677)
Auburn (Southeastern Conference) (2014–present)
2014–15 Auburn 15–20 4–14 13th
2015–16 Auburn 11–20 5–13 13th
2016–17 Auburn 18–14 7–11 11th
No losing seasons. Ever. EVER. Until he gets to AU. Post season play 94.7% of the seasons he's coached (18 of 19).
It's not Bruce Pearl. It's whatever s***ty curse is on AU and its men's athletics. Bruce didn't suddenly forget how to coach. He didn't forget how to win. He just stepped in it when he came to AU. That's why perspective is very important here. Personally, I hope we're not stupid and run the man off. That would be a tragedy, as we'll never hire another coach as good as he is, and certainly not a better recruiter.
I know --- he failed his first two years. He tried a quick fix and it didn't work. Grad transfers and JUCO players didn't work out. He reset and went the traditional route and started building the program. He already has more 5* signed to AU than AU has had in its history. They say in football for every freshman you start it's a game you lose. Unless you're signing the high level one-and-done types, the same is compounded in basketball. Barkley said it best: "They're young. Young and dumb. And they play dumb."
He's right. They're still playing like they're on an AAU team and it obviously shows. That's on Bruce to coach up, but don't act like we're so full of one-and-done talent that only Kentucky stands in our way. We have good talent. Great scoring talent even. But they have to learn to play as a team. When your senior leadership comes from TJ Dunans (JUCO transfer) and Ronnie Johnson (1 year guy), that doesn't really lend itself to stability. Have any of you seen leadership from these guys?
I remember when Carl Lawson was a freshman he got up in a DB's face when the DB was acting stupid. He was an instant leader and a guy that came to AU originally, not transferring in from somewhere else. I believe you'll see a leader or two develop from our current crop of freshman. That these guys all chose to come to AU first means something, and you'll see that translate to the court over time.
Seriously. Four freshman provided the lion's share of scoring this year. If that doesn't give you optimism for next year you're just not paying attention. I'm disappointed. Last night was a huge let down, but I still watched. I always do. Even if we suck. Well, we don't now and we're getting better. Last year we were an 11 win team. We lost scorers and gained freshman and won 18 this year. Next year I believe we'll see tremendous improvement. If not, then we can start the weeping and gnashing of teeth, but to do so now is short-sighted and arrogant, especially given what AU is as a basketball program.
