Charles Barkley’s Hilarious Reason for Choosing Auburn Revealed During March Madness Coverage
Charles Barkley is an Auburn legend. He shared his funny reason during March Madness. He is proud of his college and speaks honestly. In a lively segment, he made his view plain.
"I ain’t gonna lie, I picked Auburn because they sucked," he said. His co-hosts laughed. He added, "I wanted to get to play. Alabama had a great program under Wimp Sanderson, and UAB was solid with Gene Bartow. But I tell kids—the top goal is playing time. If you leave home and do not play, you will have a hard time in college." He went on, "It turned into one of the best decisions I ever made to go to Auburn. But I went to Auburn for one reason: they sucked in basketball."
Barkley’s words show Auburn basketball was weak then. Before he came in 1981, the Tigers had lost four seasons in a row. They had not made the NCAA Tournament. In his freshman year, Auburn ended with a 14-14 record. In his sophomore year, they improved to 15-13. In his junior year, they jumped to 20-11 and earned their first NCAA Tournament spot.
Barkley, who is 6-foot-4, ruled the court. He led the SEC in rebounding in each season. He averaged 14.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. His strong play earned him the 1984 SEC Player of the Year award. He also made Auburn’s All-Century team and still holds the record for career field goal percentage at 62.6%.
Barkley recalled his first visit to Auburn. He said, "When I went down and saw them bums play, I got excited." His gamble on Auburn paid off. It led to a solid college career and later success in the NBA and in broadcasting.
With Auburn set for a first-round game against Alabama State on Thursday, Barkley praised head coach Bruce Pearl. "I want to thank Coach Pearl for what he’s done at Auburn. I never thought Auburn would make the Final Four because, clearly, football is king," he said on CBS. He added, "When he took us to the Final Four a few years ago, I thought, ‘Man, this is the greatest season in Auburn history.’"
He noted that this season carries high hopes. Auburn is the No. 1 overall seed, and they have led the season from start to finish. "This year the pressure is higher because they are the top seed. I just want them to go deep; I really do. I am excited and cautiously optimistic."
Barkley’s clear words and steadfast support keep him close to his college. His honest voice shows he stands by Auburn as they aim for a deep run in the tournament.
