KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl says watching his team lose to Arkansas on television was “as hard as you could possibly imagine.”
Pearl has been suspended for the first eight Southeastern Conference games by league Commissioner Mike Slive after lying to NCAA investigators during an ongoing probe into Tennessee’s recruiting practices. Associate head coach Tony Jones is filling in for Pearl.
Pearl watched Tennessee’s SEC opener, a 68-65 loss to the Razorbacks on Saturday, from his hotel room in Fayetteville. He says he felt helpless and had let his team down as the Vols (10-5, 0-1) missed a chance to tie the game as time expired.
The coach said Monday he expects to watch Tennessee’s meeting with Florida (12-3, 1-0) in Knoxville on Tuesday night from his home.
