SEC MEDIA DAYS: Auburn’s Steven Pearl talks crucial NIT experience, year one lessons and his Pettiford-Overton backcourt

Matt Norlander sits down with Auburn's Steven Pearl at 2026 SEC Media Days.(0:00) Matt Norlander with Auburn’s Steven Pearl at SEC Media Day(0:45) Biggest lessons learned from Year 1(2:00) The “things are kinda raining down on me” moment(4:00) Why winning an NIT (and playing in it) was extremely important(5:12) Let’s talk about this season’s schedule: what tweaks did Steven make?(6:30) How much does a school make from a neutral site game?(7:00) Adjusting to the portal and being a fundraiser and a basketball coach(8:30) Does this era of hoops slow down the progression as a coach?(9:45) Who are Steven’s biggest allies and mentors in the space?(10:45) Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton(12:20) Who are those two players as people? + personality test going around the sport(14:45) Keys to building a better defense in 2026-27 + exhibition approach(17:30) What’s the best quality Steven got from his mother?Theme song: “Timothy Leary,” written, performed and courtesy of GusterEye on College Basketball is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts.Follow our team: @EyeonCBBPodcast @GaryParrishCBS @MattNorlander @Boone @DavidWCobb @TheJMULL_Visit the ⁠betting arena on CBSSports.com⁠ for all the latest in ⁠sportsbook reviews⁠ and ⁠sportsbook promos⁠ for ⁠betting on college basketball⁠.You can listen to us on your smart speakers! Simply say, “Alexa, play the latest episode of the Eye on College Basketball podcast,” or “Hey, Google, play the latest episode of the Eye on College Basketball podcast.”Email the show for any reason whatsoever: [email protected] Eye on College Basketball’s YouTube channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeFb_xyBgOekQPZYC7Ijilw⁠For more college hoops coverage, visit ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/