Bruce Pearl: Charlie Moore is the 'head snake' for Miami
Bruce Pearl and the No. 2 Auburn Tigers are well aware of the talent the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes will bring to the table when the two squads faceoff on Sunday night in the NCAA Tournament.
Pearl was asked specifically about Hurricanes’ veteran guard Charlie Moore, who averages 12.7 points and 4.5 assists per game.
“Which Charlie Moore do you want me to talk about? The one in high school in Chicago, or the one that played at Kansas — I know you want me to talk about him at Miami,” Bruce Pearl responded.
It’s clear the Auburn front man believes Moore is the catalyst behind Miami’s success this season.
“Man, he’s a really, really special player. He’s the head of the snake now. He’s the guy. He makes them all better. He makes them all go. He’s got great courage. He reminds me of Wendell Green except four years older and having more experience. Unbelievable range, great hands, great feel. Reminds me of when you go to a playground and it’s time to pick up sides. He might not be the first guy picked because he’s the littlest guy out there, but his team is going to win every single time. Those little guys are the best players on the floor.”
Bruce Pearl shares what picking up win over Ray Harper means to him
Bruce Pearl and Ray Harper have been rivals dating back to the mid-90’s when both coaches were leading Division II squads. Friday, they renewed their rivalry in the NCAA Tournament and Pearl’s Auburn Tigers got the better of Harper’s Jacksonville State squad 80-61. Pearl was pleased to come out on the winning side of the rivalry once again.
“It feels good. I’m sure the people back in Evansville, Indiana, and Owensboro, Kentucky, were tuned into that game, as they should,” Pearl said. “Ray and I both treated our jobs like — we had the best two jobs in Division II basketball, and we were in the same league, and only one of us were going to the Elite Eight. We had to get out of each other’s region. If you could get out of the region, you could win a National Championship.
“Between us and Wesleyan, Southern Indiana, Northern Kentucky, we did. So we have great respect for each other. I have so much respect for Coach Harper. I’m very satisfied with the way we played.”
Ray Harper and Bruce Pearl spent six seasons pitted against each other in the Division II ranks. Pearl’s Southern Indiana team and Harper’s Kentucky Wesleyan battled 16 times over that span. Harper actually beat Pearl 13 of those 16 matchups, and Pearl has been playing catch up ever since.
“I was younger than him, so that’s why I got the best of him,” Harper said Thursday prior to the first round matchup.
Pearl won a national title at Southern Indiana in 1995 and was the runner-up the season prior. Harper won a pair of titles himself in 1999 and 2001 at Kentucky Wesleyan. He also made it to the title game in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003.
“We really created something of interest to those communities,” Harper said. “… You couldn’t get a ticket. Their game at their place, you couldn’t get a ticket. At our place, and when the conference tournament would roll around and seated 10,000, you couldn’t get a ticket to that game. I thought it was great for both universities.”
With Bruce Pearl taking the cake in the latest installment of their storied rivalry, Auburn advances to the Round of 32 to battle Miami. The Hurricanes are coming off an upset win over USC in the first round. Tipoff for the game is slated for Sunday at 7:45 p.m. ET live on truTV.