Should Kentucky give Bruce Pearl a phone call?

Is Bruce Pearl a candidate for the Kentucky job?

Scott Drew just turned down the Kentucky job, leaving Mitch Barnhart scrambling to find a new head basketball coach for the Wildcats.

Now, the plan will be to throw a blank checkbook at Dan Hurley and make him say no, but it really feels like he is happy as the head coach at UConn.

If Hurley can't be pulled away from UConn, the question is, where will Barnhart go from here?

One name that has been discussed some but not a ton is Bruce Pearl, and he could be really successful in Lexington.

It takes a certain personality to be the head basketball coach at Kentucky, and Pearl has that swagger. He is a competitor on the floor and recruiting trail but also loves to help the community.

Big Blue Nation would like the person Pearl is, and he would be able to recruit like crazy at Kentucky.

Pearl has Auburn leading for a handful of top players in the 2025 recruiting class that could be Wildcats if he is the next Kentucky basketball coach.

Pearl has also done a solid job in the transfer portal, bringing in players like Walker Kessler and Johni Broome. He has had some draft picks over the last few years, as Jabari Smith Jr., Isaac Okoro, Chuma Okeke, and Kessler all played for Pearl at Auburn.

Some Kentucky fans might not have an interest in Pearl, but if Barnhart can't reel in Hurley, he could be the next best option.

With Nate Oats and Drew out, if Barnhart misses on Hurley, Coach Pearl will look a lot better to Kentucky fans.