Charles Barkley maps out path for Johni Broome to become 'greatest player in Auburn basketball history'

The top-seeded Auburn men's hoops squad defeated Alabama State successful the opening circular of the NCAA Division I men's hoops tournament. 

The Tigers past defeated Creighton successful the 2nd circular connected Saturday to beforehand to the Sweet 16. But earlier the SEC powerhouse's tally successful March Madness tipped off, Auburn large Charles Barkley voiced his enactment for 1 of the team's existent stars.

Barkley, who is providing commentary during broadcasts of tourney games, believes Johni Broome would surpass him successful Auburn lore if helium tin pb the Tigers to their archetypal nationalist championship. 

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Former NBA subordinate and Auburn alum Charles Barkley enters Neville Arena done the loading dock anterior to a crippled betwixt Oklahoma Sooners and Auburn Tigers connected February 4, 2025 successful Auburn, Alabama. (Stew Milne/Getty Images)

"If helium tin decorativeness the journey, I would accidental he's (Broome) the top subordinate successful Auburn hoops history," Barkley said during Thursday's telecast. "I genuinely mean that. What he's done for the program, him and Coach (Bruce) Pearl and those guys, has been incredible. But if they could triumph a nationalist championship, perceive man, it'd beryllium great.

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Barkley past pointed to Auburn's quality successful the 2019 Final Four, declaring it the program's champion play to date.

Mar 22, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA;  Auburn Tigers guardant Johni Broome (4) handles the shot during the 2nd fractional against the Creighton Bluejays successful the 2nd circular to the NCAA Tournament astatine Rupp Arena. (Aaron Doster-Imagn Images)

"And I would accidental this, I said erstwhile they made it to the Final Four a fewer years ago, that's the top play successful Auburn hoops history. If he's capable to triumph a championship, I'd accidental he's the top subordinate successful Auburn hoops history. ... He's amended than maine successful college."

Auburn faced immoderate uncertainty starring up to this year's tourney owed to the team's struggles precocious successful the regular season. The Tigers dropped back-to-back games to Texas A&M and Alabama earlier this month.

The March Madness logo is pictured astatine Amica Mutual Pavillion during Practice Day up of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament connected March 19, 2025 successful Providence, Rhode Island. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Tennessee outlasted Auburn successful the SEC Tournament semifinal. The Volunteers yet fell to Florida successful the SEC Tournament title game.

Barkley pointed to the prime of the opponents who defeated Auburn. "They didn't suffer to Providence," helium said. "They mislaid to 3 schools that were ranked successful the apical 10-to-15. And listen, nary disrespect to Providence. Don't beryllium blowing up. ... They mislaid to Alabama astatine the buzzer, and they're a No. 2 oregon 3 seed. That's wherefore I'm not concerned. They mislaid to 3 teams that's successful the apical 15 of the country."

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Auburn volition instrumentality connected the fifth-seeded Michigan Wolverines successful the Sweet 16 connected March 28 successful Atlanta.

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