Bruce Pearl surprises former coach Sonny Smith with news he'll get Auburn Arena banner
Erik Hall
Auburn men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl brought all of his assistant coaches out to the court for this postgame radio interview. He then started his postgame radio interview with some news.
"There's a reason why my coaching staff is out here right now," Pearl said. "And that reason is the man standing next to you. Folks, I have an announcement to make. It's my honor and privilege to announce that Sonny Smith's banner will be hanging from the rafters at Auburn Arena."
"You were always my favorite," Smith said to Pearl.
The banner is scheduled to be raised to the rafters ahead of Auburn's Jan. 29 home game vs. Oklahoma.
Smith was the Auburn men's basketball head coach from 1978-89. He took the team to the NCAA Tournament five consecutive years from 1984-88.
"Folks, Sonny did not know that," Pearl said. "And it's long, long, long overdue."
The 84-year-old Smith has been an Auburn men's basketball radio analyst for the last several years.
"It's an honor to Sonny and his family," Pearl said.
"So very nice and certainly well deserved," Auburn radio play-by-play voice Andy Burcham said.
Auburn defeated Kentucky 80-71 on Saturday.
Here's more Auburn men's basketball news:
- Toomer's Corner:See a live stream of Toomer's Corner after Auburn men's basketball win vs. Kentucky
- Auburn men's basketball:How Auburn basketball rallied to beat Kentucky, secure first place in SEC
- Top plays:No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball video highlights, final score
Auburn, ranked No. 2 in the Ferris Mowers Men's Basketball Coaches Poll powered by USA Today Sports, improved to 18-1 overall and 7-0 in the SEC. No. 12-ranked Kentucky went to 15-4 overall and 5-2 in the SEC.
Erik Hall is the lead digital producer for sports with the USA Today Network. You can find him on Twitter @HallErik.