BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Steven Pearl took the podium on Wednesday at SEC Basketball Media Days , his first as head coach of the Auburn men’s basketball team.

It’s new but familiar territory for the man who roughly three weeks ago succeeded his father, Auburn’s all-time winningest coach Bruce Pearl .

The younger Pearl has been on the staff for 11 years, working his way up to associate head coach and defensive coordinator over the past two seasons. Stepping into this role always seemed like a natural progression, it was just a question of timing.

“B.P. and I have been having hypothetical conversations about his departure for years now,” Pearl said. “Didn’t get to a point where he felt like it was time until two weeks leading up to the decision.”

Moving on from a Hall of Fame-caliber

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