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HOBE SOUND, FLORIDA – MAY 24: Charles Barkley commentates from the booth during The Match: Champions For Charity at Medalist Golf Club on May 24, 2020 in Hobe Sound, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images for The Match)
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HOBE SOUND, FLORIDA – MAY 24: Charles Barkley commentates from the booth during The Match: Champions For Charity at Medalist Golf Club on May 24, 2020 in Hobe Sound, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images for The Match)
These past few days have really been unpredictable for the NCAA fans. After the stress of the various regional championships, the NCAA brackets with the 68-team field were revealed at the Selection Show on Sunday. Defending champs UConn make a comeback as the No. 1 overall seed and the top-ranked team coming out of the East Region. However, NBA legend Charles Barkley is not impressed with the seeding of his alma mater, the Auburn Tigers.
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Sir Charles’ love for his alma mater is well known to the world and unsurprisingly, he voiced his frustration about their seeding too. The Tigers got the No. 4 seed and will play No. 13-seeded Yale in the first round. Speaking to Auburn, he said, “I’m trying to figure out why they sent all the Alabama schools to Spokane, Washington. I have a problem with that first and foremost.”
Expressing his disagreement with the NCAA committee, Sir Charles further added, “I don’t understand how Auburn can start the SEC Tournament as a four seed. Win the tournament and stay a four-seed. And I’m looking at the three seeds. Kentucky is a three-seed. I don’t have any idea how that can happen.”
He said that he doesn’t understand how the seventh-ranked Tigers got a No. 4 seed after winning the SEC tournament. Barkley is clearly not impressed with how things turned out for his beloved Tigers. The Philadelphia 76ers legend is often seen hyping up the team. Be it a motivational locker room speech or tough criticism, he is with his alma mater. So, it’s natural for him to express his frustrations about the decision. He is not the only one. Other members including the coach also shared their opinion on the same. Coach Bruce Pearl is also unimpressed about winning the SEC championship and flying across the country to Spokane as a No. 4 seed.
Coach Bruce Pearl and the team make peace with the decision
After the selection show, Bruce said, “Well they’ve been talking about us being out in Spokane a lot for some reason. Maybe that’s because that’s where the 4s are. We were hoping that an SEC Tournament championship and wherever we are in the NET, maybe we’re 5 or so in the NET, would get us to the 3-line.” He further added, “But it obviously didn’t, so. Are we paying a price for being in Birmingham last year and getting an incredible opportunity against Houston, the one seed? Perhaps. It’s a long way to travel for our fans.”
The team has an impressive record when it comes to playing across the world. During the 2019 Final Four, Auburn competed in Salt Lake City during the initial weekend. Dates for Auburn’s matchup against Yale (22-9) on March 23. The Tigers seemed to have made peace with the decision. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section below.
Written by
Edited by
Pragya Vashisth