Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl officially announced his retirement on Monday after it had been rumored for a few weeks. The retirement by Pearl takes some of the cache away from the Auburn at Arizona game on December 6 as the first of a home-and-home with the Tigers. Steven Pearl was signed to a five-year contract as the 22nd head coach in Auburn history. Auburn beat Arizona 73-57 in the 2018 Maui Invitational Third Place Game in the only game Pearl coached against the Wildcats during his career. Gonzaga, with Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd as an assistant coach, beat Duke 89-87 in the 2018 Maui Invitational Championship Game.