Bruce Pearl, Jamal Mashburn joining TNT Sports' new college basketball show

Bruce Pearl has announced his first venture after coaching, and it’s not politics. Pearl is going into broadcasting, joining TNT Sports’s new college basketball studio show and CBS Sports’ coverage during the regular season and March Madness. A familiar name will be alongside him on the TNT show: former Kentucky Basketball star Jamal Mashburn.

Pearl and Mashburn will be joined on the show, which still doesn’t have a name, by Jalen Rose and host Adam Lefkoe (who has come a long way since his days at WHAS-11!). It’s part of TNT Sports’ expanded college basketball coverage. The network is airing Big 12 and Big East regular-season games for the first time this season. Chris Webber will also chime in during TNT Sports’ coverage of the Players Era games during Thanksgiving week.

Pearl, Mashburn, Rose, and Lefkoe will also be part of TNT Sports and CBS Sports’ joint coverage of the NCAA Tournament. During the season, Pearl will call regular-season games alongside former Purdue star Robbie Hummel, who will also be a game analyst during the NCAA Tournament.

“I’ve long admired and deeply respected the way TNT Sports delivers the best studio shows in the industry, along with the way they treat everyone as family, and I could not be more excited to join the amazing team they’ve assembled to cover college basketball,” Pearl said in a press release from TNT Sports. “The product has never been in better shape on the court and I’m going to bring the same passion I displayed as a coach to broadcasting. I can’t wait for the start of the season.”

Mashburn has dabbled in broadcasting with ESPN while also running a restaurant and car dealership empire. Since retiring from the NBA in 2004, Mashburn has invested in 38 Outback Steakhouse franchises, 40 Papa John’s franchises, and three Dunkin’ Donut franchises. He also owns several car dealerships, including the Toyota/Scion, Lexus, and Porsche dealerships in Lexington, and is involved in real estate and horse racing. He’s looking forward to getting back into college hoops.

“College basketball gave me my start, and it’s where so many great basketball stories begin,” Mashburn said. “I’m excited to join TNT Sports and share my perspective on what makes these young players and programs so special.”

During the regular season, this show will probably focus mostly on Big East and Big 12 basketball, but I’ll still tune in to hear from Pearl and Mashburn. I’m sure Monster Mash will have a lot of fun Rick Pitino stories to share during St. John’s games.

Auburn loses first exhibition of Steven Pearl era

When Bruce Pearl isn’t in the studio talking about college basketball, you can expect him on the sidelines at Neville Arena watching his son, Steven, coach Auburn. He had a front row seat last night at Boutwell Auditorium for the Tigers’ 97-95 overtime loss to Oklahoma State in their first exhibition game. Keyshawn Hall led Auburn in scoring with 26 points, while star guard Tahaad Pettiford had 17, but on 4-16 shooting from the field, 2-9 from three-point land.

It hasn’t even been a month since Pearl retired from coaching. As AuburnSports’ Justin Hokanson noted, he’s still transitioning from coach to fan (or ambassador):

Auburn trails by one with under six minutes left and Bruce Pearl just stood up courtside and commanded the crowd to get loud. The man will never stop.

— Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) October 16, 2025

Bruce Pearl is on the edge of his seat. It's so interesting watching him as he cheers this team and his son on. He's itching to coach, you can see it.

— Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) October 16, 2025

The Tigers’ second exhibition is against Memphis on October 30 in Atlanta. I’m sure Bruce will be there.