Todd Golden "Very Excited" for Gators' Bout with Bruce Pearl, No. 12 Tigers

It's time for mentor versus mentee, part two, between Florida head coach Todd Golden and Auburn leader Bruce Pearl on Saturday.

Last season, the Gators traveled into Neville Arena, more commonly known as The Jungle, for Golden's first Southeastern Conference game as a head coach in the league. 

Florida played Auburn tightly — holding a three-point lead at halftime — but crumbled late in the second half to suffer a 61-58 defeat to the Tigers in the first rendition of the head-to-head matchup between Golden and Pearl.

Just one Florida player who appeared in that contest, wing Will Richard, will suit up for the Gators against the nation's 12th-ranked team on Saturday. But, the Gators' drastic roster turnover from last season to the current campaign doesn't minimize Golden's excitement, given his preexisting history with the Tigers.

Revenge is on his mind, alongside the importance of the Gators notching a second Quad-I victory in 2023-24.

"I'm really excited about it," Golden said candidly in an exclusive interview with All Gators this past offseason. "You know, I figured we'd have a good shot to play him at home this year because we only play them once. We played them on the road last year, but you never know. So, when I got the schedule, I was very excited."

Golden's history with Pearl and Auburn University dates back to 2014-15 when he was hired to help kickstart the program under a new regime as the director of basketball operations. 

He was quickly elevated to an assistant coaching position for the 2015-16 campaign, commanding a lead role in preparing and interpreting the team's analytical and metrics data before being hired away the ensuing offseason.

Six years later, when Golden arrived in Gainesville from San Francisco in March 2022, he recalled those who prepared him for the spotlight as a Power Six head coach. 

He spoke highly of his time at Auburn, crediting Pearl's example and influence in his own style and approach.

"I learned about passion, how to build a program, servant leadership and just overall excitement in how to galvanize a group for the greater good," Golden said when asked about his takeaways from Pearl during his introductory press conference on March 23, 2022.

"His work ethic is second to none. I remember from the time I got down to Auburn with him; he just didn't sleep. We were living in the same little apartment for a couple of months, and I remember every morning at five, he would be getting up, going to the office. That work ethic was something that I was just so inspired by, and he led the charge. If you weren't keeping up with him, you felt like you weren't doing your job."

Golden also aims to emulate the attributes of a player-coach. The characteristic has been synonymous with Pearl's style throughout his successful tenure at AU.

"That's something that I've always taken with me is that dedication to the craft, that working really hard, and also, the player relationship piece," Golden added. "He was really good at getting guys to play incredibly hard for him and love and trust."

Pearl and several longtime members of the Tigers' staff reciprocate the respect. Steven Pearl, son of Bruce and an assistant at Auburn, deemed Golden family before the first contest between the two head coaches a year ago.

Each meeting means much more for both sides as a result, especially for Golden as he drives to topple the more established and experienced Pearl.

"Love those guys, but love competing against them also," Golden said. "Would definitely love the opportunity to hang an L on them."

Now, with both squads vying to build toward a postseason run, the second chapter is set to be written. Golden aims to pull even with his mentor in the friendly but equally competitive head-to-head rivalry in front of the Rowdy Reptiles on Saturday.

Tip-off for the bout is set for 3:30 p.m. ET inside the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.