AUBURN — On Monday, Sept. 22, Auburn basketball underwent a change at the top, with Bruce Pearl announcing his retirement and his son, Steven Pearl, taking over.

It comes on the heels of the Tigers’ best season since 2019, however, when they went to their first Final Four ever under the elder Pearl. The 2024-25 campaign saw Auburn win at least 30 games for just the second time in the Pearl era. That coincided with its fifth SEC championship under Pearl, as well as its first-ever designation as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Which leaves a simple question: Why now? Why retire in the aftermath of one's program reaching the sport's pinnacle? Here's what Pearl said about it, in an emotional, 14-minute-long message .

"Being the head coach of Auburn basketball is

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