Auburn’s Steven Pearl goes viral for thoughtful gesture during loss to Tennessee in SEC Tournament

The Tennessee Vols eliminated the Auburn Tigers from the SEC Tournament in Nashville on Thursday.

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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The Tennessee Vols eliminated the Auburn Tigers from the SEC Tournament on Thursday in Nashville.

Tennessee secured the 72-62 win thanks in part to 27 points from Vols true freshman Nate Ament.

Ament returned to action for the Vols on Thursday after missing the last couple of games with a high ankle sprain.

Steven Pearl goes viral for thoughtful gesture toward Nate Ament

Auburn head coach Steven Pearl is a bit of a polarizing figure in college basketball, but he went viral on Thursday for a thoughtful gesture toward Ament.

At one point, Ament was waiting to sub into the game. That’s when Pearl was captured on video helping the 6-foot-10 Ament up.

Pearl, of course, played college basketball at Tennessee (when his dad, Bruce, was the head coach).

Earlier this season, Pearl spoke positively about his time at Tennessee.

“There’s so many things that happened at Tennessee that have shaped my life to what it is today, so I’m eternally grateful,” said Steven. “I would like a Letterman’s jacket at some point, because I still haven’t gotten that. But my years there were some of the best of my life personally, because it shaped the man I am today and a lot of things kind of fell in place for me to be where I’m at, in this chair.”

Vols head coach Rick Barnes commented on Steven taking over at Auburn back in September.

“I think Steven will do a great job,” said Barnes. “I mean, you can’t live with someone like Bruce and not understand the game, being around the game. I think that over the years as I’ve grown up and matured every year, I think I could tell you from the first time I met Steven the same thing [about him]. I will say that about all the coaches on my staff as I watch them grow.

“I think Steven has worked hard, and I think the fact that Auburn has given him this opportunity speaks volumes of what they think of him….I think that Bruce, obviously over the last couple of years, probably didn’t make any decisions in the program that he didn’t sit down with Steven to talk about. This is something that I knew that he wanted and I’m happy for him. I’m happy for Steven. And there’s no doubt he’s going to continue to do a great job.”

Tennessee will take on Vanderbilt on Friday in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.

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