After years of staying busy as an assistant, Pearl admits he's struggling with pregame downtime, even wondering if "it's inappropriate to watch a TV show" before tipoff.

With the exhibition games in the rear view mirror, Filip Jovic is set for the real action with the Auburn Tigers

This is Steven Pearl's first head coaching job, an opportunity Auburn athletic director John Cohen said "has been earned."

Steven Pearl's emphasis on zone defense helps Auburn limit Memphis to 37% shooting while scoring 100 points in final preseason test.

His impact was felt beyond the stat sheet in his second game in the orange and blue, creating havoc on the defensive end and staying active on the glass throughout all 40 minutes. He finished the game with a plus-24 rating in the plus-minus metric, meaning the Tigers outscored Memphis by 24 points while Jovic was on the floor.