Bruce Pearl Takes Center Stage on TNT’s New College Basketball Studio Show The Athletic Reports

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Bruce Pearl Takes Center Stage on TNT’s New College Basketball Studio Show The Athletic Reports

Bruce Pearl, the recently retired Auburn basketball coach, will lead a new college basketball studio show on TNT Sports. He is joined by Jalen Rose and Jamal Mashburn in this new endeavor aimed at enhancing the network’s college basketball coverage.

New Studio Show Line-Up

The unamed program features Bruce Pearl alongside former NBA players and analysts, Jalen Rose and Jamal Mashburn. Adam Lefkoe will host the show, which will form part of TNT Sports’ broadened college basketball coverage. The network’s history includes broadcasting the NCAA Men’s Tournament, which has been a long-term collaboration with CBS.

Expansion of Coverage

This significant expansion marks the first full regular-season coverage for TNT Sports, which will now include up to 72 combined men’s and women’s games from the Big East and Big 12 conferences. This development comes as part of a broader effort to diversify and increase its sports programming.

Special Events and Programming

Chris Webber, a Naismith Hall of Famer, will make a return to TNT for special events such as the Thanksgiving week’s Players Era games. This reunion includes teaming up again with Jalen Rose, his former teammate from Michigan’s Fab 5.

Tournament Insights

Pearl, Rose, Mashburn, and Lefkoe will also form part of the TNT/CBS collaborative coverage team for the NCAA Men’s Tournament. Bruce Pearl, holding a 694-270 coaching record, will lend his expertise for CBS regular season game analysis as well.

Bruce Pearl’s Coaching Legacy

Pearl, aged 65, retired from his coaching role at Auburn last month. His impactful career spanned over 11 years at Auburn, with a record of 232-125 and leading the Tigers to the Final Four last March. His successor at Auburn is his son, Steven Pearl.

This new chapter for Pearl and TNT Sports represents a significant shift in sports broadcasting, promising to deliver comprehensive and in-depth college basketball coverage.