Bruce Pearl yelling at officials in Auburn loss to Alabama. Mar 1, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl talks with a referee as he is upset about a call during overtime of an NCAA basketball game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

The Alabama/Auburn rivalry has always been big in football but the basketball rivalry is taking on a life of its own.

Former Auburn Tigers basketball star Aden Holloway transferred to Tuscaloosa earlier this year after his season with the Tigers was over, which naturally added fuel to the fire.

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said as much in a recent interview.

“Sure, yeah,” Pearl said. “It’d be like if Auburn’s quarterback went and played quarterback for Alabama. What do you think that would do for the Iron Bowl? It would make it more interesting and continue to add to the rivalry.”

Holloway was a five-star recruit and a McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school but struggled somewhat last season with the Tigers. His turnover-assist ratio was fourth best in the SEC, but his efficiency from the 3-point line was barely 30 percent.

At the time of his transfer, many Auburn fans were naturally upset by the move and questioned if he made the correct decision, especially knowing that he would be on the bench behind All-SEC point guard Mark Sears who is returning. But if the videos that Alabama basketball has put out are any indication, Holloway seems more at home in Tuscaloosa than Auburn.

This will just make for more fun this winter.

{Montgomery Advertiser, Alabama Men’s Basketball}

About Stacey Mickles

Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.