The top placed Auburn men’s basketball Team defeated Alabama State in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Heren Basketball Tournament.
The Tigers then defeated Creighton in the second round on Saturday to continue to Sweet 16. But before the SEC Powerhouse’s Run March madness Tip tip, Auburn Great Charles Barkley expressed his support for one of the current stars of the team.
Barkley, who comments during broadcasts of tournament games, believes that Johni Broome would surpass him in Auburn Lore if he can lead the Tigers to their first national championship.
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Former NBA player and Auburn Aluin Charles Barkley comes in Neville Arena via the Laaddok prior to a match between Oklahoma Sooners and Auburn Tigers on February 4, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Stew Milne/Getty Images)
“If he can end the journey, I would say that he (Broome) is the biggest player in Auburn’s basketball history,” said Barkley during Thursday’s broadcast. “I mean that. What he did for the program, he and coach (Bruce) Pearl and those guys, have been incredible. But if they could win a national championship, listen man, it would be great.
Barkley then pointed to the Auburn appearance in the last four of 2019 and declared the best season so far of the program.
March 22, 2025; Lexington, Ky, vs; Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4) treats the ball during the second half against the Creighton Bluejays in the second round to the NCAA tournament in Rupp Arena. (Aaron Doster-Imagin images)
“And I would say this, I said that when they made the last four a few years ago, the biggest season in the basketball history of Auburn is. If he can win a championship, I would say that he is the best player in the basketball history of Auburn … he is better than me at university.”
Auburn was confronted with some doubt prior to this year’s tournament because of the struggles of the team late in the regular season. The Tigers dropped back-to-back games earlier this month to Texas A&M and Alabama.
The March Madness logo is depicted in Amica Mutual Pavillion during the practice day for the NCAA basketball tournament for men on March 19, 2025 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Head of Emilee or Gotty Images)
Tennessee Auburn survived in the semi -final of the SEC tournament. The volunteers eventually fell to Florida in the Sec Tournament Championship game.
Barkley pointed to the quality of the opponents who Auburn defeated. “They didn’t lose from Providence,” he said. “They lost from three schools that were arranged in the top 10-to-15. And listen, no lack of respect for Providence. Do not blow up.
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Auburn will compete against the fifth placed Michigan Wolverines In the Sweet 16 on March 28 in Atlanta.
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