What Bruce Pearl texted former Auburn basketball, now Iowa assistant Matt Gatens

Richard Silva, Montgomery Advertiser
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BIRMINGHAM — Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl wasn't kidding Monday when he said he texted Iowa assistant Matt Gatens ahead of their matchup in the NCAA Tournament.

Gatens, who got his start in college basketball as a graduate assistant with the Tigers during the 2017-18 season, confirmed Pearl reached out for some friendly banter.

"He texted me, he was just joking around," Gatens said Wednesday. "He (said) he was changing his whole offense and everything. It's pretty fun and exciting to play him. It should be a fun one."

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Gatens was on Auburn's staff the season Pearl led the Tigers to their first March Madness appearance under his guidance. Gatens said he still follows the careers of Bryce Brown, Jared Harper, Chuma Okeke and even Davion Mitchell, who transferred to Baylor after one season at Auburn.

He's in a group text with assistants Paul Burgomaster and Steven Pearl, too. Of course, there's been some trash talk.

"A little back and forth," Gatens said. "... It'll be good to see those guys, but once that ball tips, we're both going to be trying to win."

The Tigers, (20-12) who fell in the second round of the tournament during Gatens' lone season at Auburn, will take on the Hawkeyes (19-13) in the first round of March Madness on Thursday (5:50 p.m. CT, TNT) at Legacy Arena.

"I was just a sponge in that first year," Gatens said. "Just trying to learn everything from how to help out with travel, scouting (and) just everything to do with a program. It was a good place to be. I have some great memories there. Great relationships, a lot of great friends I still have today.

"Pretty unique and special to get to play them here tomorrow."

Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: What Auburn's Bruce Pearl texted Iowa assistant before NCAA Tournament