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UMBC Trolls Bruce Pearl, Auburn After Clinching NCAA Tourney Bid
The America East champions couldn't resist taking a shot at the former Auburn coach's tournament lobbying.
Mar. 15, 2026 at 5:25pm
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UMBC secured its first NCAA tournament bid since 2018 by winning the America East conference championship. After clinching the automatic bid, the school's athletic department Twitter account took a jab at former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, who had been pushing for the Tigers to get an at-large bid over undefeated Miami (OH) if it came down to the two schools.
Why it matters
UMBC's tweet was a response to Pearl's apparent dismissal of mid-major programs like themselves, highlighting the ongoing debate around at-large bids and the perceived bias towards power conference teams in the NCAA tournament selection process.
The details
UMBC beat Vermont in the America East final to clinch its first NCAA tournament berth since the team's historic upset of #1 seed Virginia in 2018. In the aftermath, UMBC's athletic department Twitter account took aim at Bruce Pearl, the former Auburn coach who had been advocating for the Tigers to receive an at-large bid over undefeated Miami (OH) if it came down to the two schools. UMBC's tweet mocked Pearl's lobbying, saying the best part of having an autobid is not needing "a relative going on tv to explain why we deserve to be in over a 30-win" team.
- UMBC clinched its NCAA tournament bid on March 11, 2026.
- Bruce Pearl had been pushing for Auburn to receive an at-large bid in the days leading up to the tournament selection.
The players
UMBC
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County men's basketball team, which pulled off a historic upset over #1 seed Virginia in the 2018 NCAA tournament.
Bruce Pearl
The former head coach of the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team, who had been advocating for his former team to receive an at-large NCAA tournament bid over undefeated Miami (OH).
Steven Pearl
The current head coach of the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team, who took over after his father Bruce Pearl's departure.
Miami (OH)
The undefeated men's basketball team from Miami University in Ohio, which was in contention for an at-large NCAA tournament bid.
What they’re saying
“Just realized the best part of having an autobid is that we don't need a relative going on tv to explain why we deserve to be in over a 30-win.”
— UMBC Athletics, UMBC Athletic Department Twitter Account
What’s next
Auburn, now coached by Bruce Pearl's son Steven, is highly unlikely to make the NCAA tournament after losing in the SEC tournament second round, falling to 17-16 on the season.
The takeaway
UMBC's tweet highlights the ongoing debate around at-large NCAA tournament bids and the perceived bias towards power conference teams, as well as the school's continued confidence and pride after its historic 2018 upset victory.
