VIDEO: Bruce Pearl calls the Iowa basketball opening 'a very attractive job, a great job'

ST. LOUIS -- I didn't ask Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl if he were interested in the Iowa men's basketball job after the Volunteers' NCAA tournament practice in the Edward Jones Dome Thursday.

Why not? Time ran out, as you can see from the end of this video. That's the real reason. But he's said he's staying at Tennessee, so there you go.

Pearl had to go to the tournament's interview room from the main arena, other people had started entering what had been a one-on-one Pearl was generous enough to give me, and the man was pinched for time.

But he wouldn't have answered the question, anyhow, at least not to give a definitive answer. He would have said he has a job, a fantastic job. More importantly, he isn't crazy. By that, I mean if he said he had no interest it's sort of an insult to Iowa. And if he said he was interested, he unleashes a firestorm on the eve of his team's Sweet 16 NCAA game against Ohio State.

Not that he has any great reason to want the Iowa job right now. But it's fun to pretend, isn't it?

Pearl, however didn't hesitate to talk about the job in general, as you can see here:

Said Pearl: "Once you're a Hawkeye, you're always a Hawkeye. I've got great, great, great memories, still have some great friends there. I know Tom (Davis) still lives there. I still stay in touch with Tom.

"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Iowa, Tom Davis and the development of my career.

About the Iowa coaching opening: "Just look what they're doing in football. Look what Kirk's done, look what Hayden did. They've managed to keep it going."

For basketball to succeed again: "Just continue to plug into that formula. The formula is they've got great, great fans. And obviously they need to continue to improve facilties as the rest of the Big Ten grows. Keep recruiting better and better players

"It's a very attractive job nationally, a great job. Iowa City's a phenomenal community.  Obviously, you need to continue to improve the facilities as the rest of the Big Ten teams keep recruiting better and better players. The talent pool in the rest of the Big Ten has increased with the talent pool at Iowa."