GAINESVILLE, FL Todd Golden, the coach of Florida, would want to play a team other than Auburn in the Final Four. Bruce Pearl, the coach of the Tigers, understands the emotion. But when the Gators and Tigers play Saturday in San Antonio, two coaches who are just two victories away from a national championship will put aside their 20-year friendship for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Golden stated on Tuesday that “we don’t necessarily enjoy playing each other.” We’re not really excited about it. However, it’s a bit different when you’re doing it in the Final Four. Following their incredible comeback victory over Texas Tech on Saturday, the Gators (34-4) advanced to the national semifinals.
Pearl and Golden exchanged text messages. The next day, Golden FaceTimed with Tigers assistant Steven Pearl, a personal friend, coach’s son, and former coworker, during Auburn’s (32-5) defeat of Michigan State. “We’re just giggling,” Golden remarked. It’s very amazing. Make great progress. Indeed, it has been ages since they played together at the World Maccabiah Games in 2005, which were comparable to the Jewish and Israeli Olympics, and then coached together at a dormant SEC program.
Auburn twice finished 13th in the 14-team league during Golden’s two seasons (2014-16) working for Bruce Pearl. UF’s coach recalled Auburn versus Mississippi State during the 2015 SEC Tournament’s first game, the spot reserved for the league’s bottom feeders.
The Tigers surprisingly reeled off three victories to reach the semifinals against Kentucky, an all-too-rare encouraging sign during some tough early years for Pearl’s program. “Fast forward 10, 11, years, and now both of us have our teams in the Final Four,” Golden said.
This will be Pearl’s second trip to the Final Four (2019) and the fourth time he will face these Gators. UF holds a 2-1 edge after a surprising 90-81 win Feb. 8 at top-ranked Auburn – the Tigers’ first home loss and only one of two this season along with a 93-91 overtime decision against Alabama.
This time, Golden expects the best of version of Tigers, who are healthier and riding a wave of momentum as the overall No. 1 seed in the tournament. “They weren’t necessarily playing their best basketball after they clinched going into the SEC Tournament,” Golden said. “They were competing well, but now they are back to playing really, really good ball. They played great on Sunday against Michigan State.
“It was never truly near.” As usual, Johni Broome, an All-American center, took the lead. Despite exiting the game and coming back after hurting his right elbow, the 6-foot-10, 240-pound left-hander ended with 25 points and 14 rebounds, his 17th double-double of the season. Golden knows Broome quite well.
Golden targeted Broome as a transfer from Morehead State when he arrived in March 2022. “I think I had a little misperception of myself as a head coach at the time, comparing Bruce to myself,” Golden stated. We had only recently arrived, and it ultimately boiled down to either their program or ours.
We were less successful in selling. “But we’re content with our current situation.” Golden now intends to sacrifice two of his closest friends and one of his mentors in order to take the greatest move of his career. On Monday night, Golden or the Pearls will support the other team against the Duke-Houston victor. “That they’re in this position as well makes me very happy for them,” Golden remarked. It’s simply a somewhat unusual circumstance. The potential excites both parties.
