Bruce Pearl Forgets Caitlin Clark's Name On TNT

Bruce Pearl had a rough moment on TNT on Sunday. Ahead of Sunday’s Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship Game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and UCLA Bruins, the TNT Sports’ pregame studio was talking about the two Big Ten programs. Bruce Pearl, the former Auburn Tigers head coach who now ...

by Andrew Holleran

Mar 9, 2026

Bruce Pearl says Roll Tide.

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Bruce Pearl had a rough moment on TNT on Sunday.

Ahead of Sunday’s Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship Game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and UCLA Bruins, the TNT Sports’ pregame studio was talking about the two Big Ten programs.

Bruce Pearl, the former Auburn Tigers head coach who now serves as an analyst for CBS and TNT, decided to talk about how this probably isn't the Iowa Hawkeyes team that people are used to.

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - MARCH 04: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers looks on against the Texas A&M Aggies during the first half at Reed Arena on March 04, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Pearl confused the names of both legendary Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark and head coach Lisa Bluder.

“Iowa women’s basketball. No superstar Caitlin Smith,” said Pearl, who had to be talking about Caitlin Clark. “No Hall of Fame coaches. C. Vivian Stringer …. No Lisa Blunder."

It's impressive to get both of their names wrong.

Saying "Blunder" instead of "Bluder" is fairly understandable, especially on live TV, where everyone can make mistakes.

But how did he come up with Caitlin Smith?