Bruce Pearl had an awkward moment on live TV while previewing Sunday’s Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the UCLA Bruins on TNT.

While discussing the team’s transition, the former Auburn Tigers coach, now working as an analyst, stumbled over several names connected to Iowa’s program, which created a brief awkward moment on air.

In a clip shared by Awful Announcing a few days ago, Pearl was heard saying, “Iowa women’s basketball. No superstar Caitlin Smith,” on air, apparently meaning former Hawkeyes standout Caitlin Clark.

Moreover, Bruce Pearl didn’t stop with just one mistake during the broadcast.

While continuing his point, he also misnamed another major figure from Iowa’s program and said, “No Hall of Fame coaches. C. Vivian Stringer … No Lisa Blunder,” when he was actually referring to longtime Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder, who retired two seasons ago.

The on-air mistakes soon circulated on social media, where fans and viewers reacted to the mix-ups.

Pearl eventually corrected himself later in the segment and properly referenced Jan Jensen. Even with the correction, though, social media users had already started poking fun at the earlier errors.

Regardless, after an eight-month break from basketball, Clark made it clear she’s eager to return to the court.

Caitlin Clark Gets Honest Before Stepping Back on Court

Speaking ahead of the tournament in San Juan, which is scheduled to run from March 11–17, 2026, Caitlin Clark opened up about the emotions she’s feeling before the competition begins.

After practice on Monday, she shared that the feeling isn’t exactly nerves but more like butterflies as the event gets closer.

“I mean, I don’t even think it’s like necessarily maybe nerves to a certain extent, probably almost like butterflies,” Clark told ESPN while reflecting on how she feels heading into the tournament.

Even though Caitlin Clark is one of the most recognizable names in women’s basketball right now, she said she understands that things are different when playing for USA Basketball.

She explained that this stage comes with a different role and that she doesn’t expect to step in as the team’s main star.

“For myself, there’s definitely a level of—I don’t want to call it nerves, but excitement and joy."

Clark said as she prepares to make her senior national team debut alongside fellow stars Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and Kiki Iriafen, who will also be experiencing this stage together for the first time.

This tournament will mark Clark’s first assignment with the senior national team, and the 24-year-old said she has been feeling good during practices so far.

She added that while she’s mostly excited right now, she expects to be a little anxious and hyped up on game day, but in a good way.

Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi