Auburn’s best male basketball team defeated the state of Alabama in the first round of the Male Basketball Tournament of Division I of the NCAA.
The Tigers then defeated Creighton in the second round on Saturday to advance to Sweet 16. But before the power of the SEC is executed in March Madness, Auburn Great Charles Barkley expressed support for one of the current team’s current stars.
Barkley, who provides comments during tournament games transmissions, believes that Johni Broome would overcome it in Auburn’s tradition if he can take the Tigers to his first national championship.
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The former NBA player and Auburn student Charles Barkley enters Neville Arena through the loading dock before a game between Oklahoma Sooners and Auburn Tigers on February 4, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Stew Milne/Getty Images)
“If you can finish the trip, I would say that (Broome) is the best player in the history of Auburn’s basketball,” Barkley said during Thursday’s broadcast. “I really say it. What he has done for the program, he and the coach (Bruce) Pearl and those boys, have been incredible. But if they could win a national championship, listen to man, it would be great.
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Barkley then pointed out Auburn’s appearance in the 2019 Final Four, declaring him the best season of the program to date.
March 22, 2025; Lexington, Ky, USA; The Auburn Tigers Johni Brome striker (4) handles the ball during the second half against the Creighton Bluejays in the second round to the NCAA tournament in the RUPP Arena. (Aaron Doster-Imagn images)
“And I would say this, I said when they arrived at the Final Four a few years ago, that is the best season in Auburn’s basketball history. If you can win a championship, I would say that she is the best player in the history of Auburn’s basketball … It’s better than me at the university.”
Auburn faced some doubts before this year’s tournament due to team struggles at the end of the regular season. The Tigers launched consecutive games to Texas A&M and Alabama earlier this month.
The Marness March logo is shown in Amica Mutual Pavillion during the day of practice before the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on March 19, 2025 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Tennessee surpassed Auburn in the semifinal of the SEC tournament. The volunteers finally fell to Florida in the SEC tournament championship game.
Barkley pointed out the quality of the opponents who defeated Auburn. “They didn’t lose providence,” he said. “They lost in three schools that were classified in the Top 10 to 15. And listen, there is no respect for providence. They were not exploding … They lost to Alabama in the bell, and they are a seed number 2 or 3. That is why they do not worry me. They lost to three teams that are in the 15 best in the country.”
Auburn will face the fifth Michigan Wolverines sown at the Sweet 16 on March 28 in Atlanta.
