Auburn Basketball Coach Calls Out Team After Loss to Tennessee: 'They Punked Us'

Steven Pearl was not happy with his team's performance in the 77-69 defeat to the Volunteers.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:47am

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Auburn basketball head coach Steven Pearl did not mince words after his team's 77-69 loss to Tennessee on Saturday. Pearl said the Tigers were outmatched physically, getting "punked" by the Volunteers, and struggled from 3-point range, going just 7-for-31 as their four best shooters combined for a poor performance.

Why it matters

The loss drops Auburn to 14-8 on the season and out of the rankings, as the Tigers continue SEC play. Pearl, in his first year as head coach after taking over for his father Bruce, is trying to rebuild the program after significant offseason roster turnover.

The details

Auburn forward Keyshawn Hall scored 21 points in the loss, but the Tigers' offense overall did not match Tennessee's physicality. Pearl said the Volunteers "beat us at our game" and "pushed us around" throughout the contest.

  • The game took place on Saturday, February 1, 2026.
  • Auburn will next play a rivalry game against Alabama on Saturday, February 8, 2026.

The players

Steven Pearl

The first-year head coach of the Auburn basketball team, taking over for his father Bruce Pearl who departed the program last year.

Keyshawn Hall

An Auburn forward who scored 21 points in the loss to Tennessee.

Bruce Pearl

The former head coach of the Auburn basketball team, who left the program last year.

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What they’re saying

“They beat us at our game. They pushed us around. They punked us... They didn't continue to settle for threes like we did... Our four best 3-point shooters combined for 7-for-31. Not gonna win when you do that on the road.”

— Steven Pearl, Head Coach, Auburn Basketball

What’s next

Auburn will look to bounce back on Saturday, February 8, 2026 when they host rival Alabama.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the rebuilding job Steven Pearl faces in his first season as Auburn's head coach, as the Tigers struggle to match the physicality of top SEC opponents and failed to capitalize from 3-point range, an area that has been a strength for the program in recent years.