Bruce Pearl hilariously bungles Caitlin Clark reference, flips Miami (Ohio) stance in wild TNT moments

Christian ArnoldMon, March 9, 2026 at 4:13 AM UTC

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An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows TNT analyst Bruce Pearl, Image 2 shows Caitlin Clark on the bench with the Indiana Fever basketball team

Talk about a “Blunder,” Bruce Pearl.

The former Auburn basketball coach and current college basketball analyst incorrectly name-dropped Iowa women’s basketball legends Lisa Bluder and Caitlin Clark.

The error happened during TNT Sports’ pregame show before the women’s Big Ten Tournament championship game between the Hawkeyes and Bruins.

“Iowa women’s basketball. No superstar Caitlin Smith,” Pearl started off saying. “No Hall of Fame coaches. C. Vivian Stringer.”

TNT analyst Bruce Pearl Getty Images

At that point, one of his fellow panellists corrected him and he acknowledged the mistake, “You’re right, Caitlin Clark.”

He then proceeded to refer to Bluder as “Lisa Blunder.”

Bluder had retired two seasons ago and Clark made the jump from the college ranks to the pros in 2024.

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The mix-up with the names wasn’t the only notable moment for Pearl during Sunday’s broadcast.

In a turning of the tide, Pearl told the audience that now he not only believes the undefeated Miami (Ohio) RedHawks deserve to make the NCAA Tournament, but that he‘s “rooting” for two teams from the MAC to make it into March Madness.

“They may not be the best team in the MAC,” Pearl said. “It might be Akron. It might be the Zips. Five years in a row, they’ve won 22-plus games. … I’m rooting for Akron to make the upset, that way two teams get to the NCAA Tournament out of the MAC.”

Panalist Adam Zucker asked, “You’re putting Miami (Ohio) in?”

“I’m putting Miami (Ohio) in! They’re in!” he responded.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark supported her team last season. JASON SZENES/NEW YORK POST

Pearl has previously questioned whether Miami (Ohio) would be deserving of an at-large bid as some of the power conference teams.

Pearl, whose son took over at Auburn as head coach, stumped for the Tigers as well on air.

The remarks by Pearl angered Miami (Ohio) athletic director and he fired back, calling Pearl’s remarks “awful” disrespect.

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Source: “AOL Sports”