One of the most compelling matchups in sports this weekend will take place in San Antonio, where the Auburn Tigers and Florida Gators clash in the Final Four of the men’s NCAA Tournament.
Both teams, representing the SEC, feature talented rosters, but a major storyline centers on the connection between Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl and Florida head coach Todd Golden.
Their relationship goes back years—Pearl coached Golden in the Israeli Pro League and later gave him his start in coaching by hiring him as Auburn’s Director of Basketball Operations in 2014. Pearl also played a key role in Golden’s rise by helping him establish himself at San Francisco, which eventually led to his hiring at Florida in 2022.
With a national championship berth at stake, the two coaches now face off on the biggest stage. Ahead of the game, Pearl expressed his admiration for Golden, stating, “Todd was a great scoring point guard, and I’ve always said, don’t be fooled… he’s a good-looking kid, but he’s a tough guy. His teams play hard, they play physical, so don’t let that sheepish look fool you—he’s the real deal.”
Earlier this season, Florida defeated Auburn 90-81 on the Tigers’ home court. Both teams were dominant in the SEC, with Auburn securing the regular-season title and Florida winning the conference tournament to earn an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
Now, the winner of this highly anticipated Final Four showdown will move on to face either Duke or Houston in the national championship game.
