Charles Barkley is never shy about speaking his mind, so when it comes to the hottest topic surrounding this year’s NCAA tournament and draft — whether Miami, Ohio, deserves to be there if the RedHawks come up short in the MAC tournament — you know the longtime Hall of Famer and commentator has his opinion.
Round Mound of Rebound’s take on the subject runs counter to that of another Auburn legend: Bruce Pearl.
“I disagree with Bruce Pearl” Barkley said. “Bruce said if they didn’t win the tournament, they shouldn’t play in it.”
Charles Barkley thinks Miami, Ohio deserves NCAA tournament bid
The former Auburn coach was criticized for his comments regarding Travis Steele’s team’s place in the NCAA tournament after finishing the regular season undefeated. Pearl caught some walks away from Miami athletic director David Saylerwho criticized him for his “Homerism” toward Auburn, which is coached by Bruce’s son Steven, and for denouncing what the RedHawks have accomplished.
“@coachbrucepearl you are completely wrong about @MiamiOH_BBall when you said we would finish last in the Big East. The lack of respect is horrible and you shouldn’t be near a TV studio covering this sport when you show your true colors!” . “I even slipped in a ‘we’ when talking about Auburn, great job!”
In Barkley’s famous words, Pearl’s view is troubling.
“Why is it their fault that other teams suck in their conference? » said Barkley. “I tell people that all the time. They say, ‘Well, they didn’t play anyone.’ They played their program. The planning is done years in advance. And Duke won’t come to Miami. Arizona will not go to Miami, Ohio.
It will be a major controversy on Sunday if the RedHawks don’t secure a spot in the tournament, with the bid going to a Power 4 school (ahem, Auburn) that hasn’t exactly had the same kind of year as Steele’s team.
Have fun, committee. This isn’t going to be fun.
