The mothership is reporting that Bruce Pearl and the Tennessee Volunteers have parted ways, as widely expected. Pearl admitted to lying to the NCAA about several NCAA violations earlier this year, and the subsequent investigation cast a pall over the Volunteers 2011 season. Tennessee lost resoundingly in the first round of the NCAA tournament to the Michigan Wolverines, 75-45.
More after the jump.
Rocky Top Talk is reporting the firing also:
According to Jimmy Hyams from Knoxville radio station WNML, the University of Tennessee has fired head basketball coach Bruce Pearl, six months and one basketball season after a press conference last September which revealed an NCAA investigation into the basketball program. Even though he was working without a contract, Pearl will receive a buyout from the university, the details of which reportedly caused the decision to be delayed through the weekend. Hyams also reports the call was made by university chancellor Jimmy Cheek. If/when there is a press conference, we will update with that information here.
I ask that all Kentucky fans be respectful of our Volunteer brethren, especially on their blogs. We have been through all this before, and I hope we remember how miserable it was. The Golden Rule is always a good thing to remember under circumstances like this.