Bruce Pearl previews another Quad I opportunity at Florida, Tigers looking to break 14-game losing streak in Gainesville

AUBURN -- Auburn men's basketball hasn't won in Gainesville since 1996. It's been 14 straight losses, with some of Bruce Pearl's best recent teams losing at Florida. The 2018 regular season conference champions lost there by six points, the 2020 team that finished second in the league lost there by 22, and Pearl's other regular season championship with Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler lost by one. Pearl is 0-5 at Florida while the coach at Auburn. While at Tennessee, Pearl was 3-3 at Florida. Given that recent history, and continued SEC championship and NCAA Tournament seeding on the line from here on out, Pearl is well aware of the challenge that awaits on Saturday afternoon. "1996, 1996. Steven Pearl was seven, Mike Burgomaster was two, Chad Prewett was in his second year of coaching high school basketball, Ira Bowman was a player at Penn," Pearl said on Friday. "Bill Clinton was president, Monica Lewinsky was still his intern, gas was $1.22. That was the last time we beat Florida at Florida. That’s a long, long time ago. I haven’t been down there and beat them while at Auburn. It’s a monumental task. We’ve gone down there with good enough teams to beat them and haven’t been able to." Much more from Pearl inside...