This year’s March Madness has Charles Barkley riding a wave of emotions. “I’ll be honest with you, I’m so proud of Alabama and Auburn. I never in my wildest dream thought that Alabama and Auburn would make it to the Final Four,” he said. But soon after that, Alabama lost to Duke. On the other hand, Auburn set to take on Florida on the 6th. And Barkley couldn’t help but remember a heart-wrenching moment from six years ago.
Back in 2019, Auburn was on the verge of history, facing Virginia in the Final Four. It was a game that had everything—drama, tension, and two late-game calls that left Auburn fans in disbelief. One was a controversial no-call, and the other was a highly debatable foul, both favoring Virginia. The Tigers fell just short, losing 63-62, and Barkley, an Auburn legend himself, was left shattered.
“I don’t want to take away from Virginia’s victory because they got the play,” he said in 2019. “The three in the corner, they kept giving themselves chances to win the game. It was a heck of a game. Man, I really wanna cry right now, I ain’t gonna lie. But I don’t want to take away from Virginia’s joy right now.”
Years later, the heartbreak still lingers. While speaking on the Jim Rome Show, Barkley reflected on how deeply that loss affected him—not just as a fan, but as a broadcaster. “We lost a heartbreaker to Virginia. I was so upset and heartbroken for those kids,” he admitted. “They almost gave me a couple segments off because I was so upset, first of all, by the way the game ended, more than anything.”
Jun 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; NBA TV analyst Charles Barkley talks on set before game three of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
But despite the overwhelming emotions, Barkley knew he had a job to do. “But I was so upset for those kids. They’re like, do you need a break? I said, I think I do. But I put it together because I didn’t think it’d be fair to the rest of the guys just because my team lost not to be a professional.”
And just like that, he pulled himself together—because even when heartbreak strikes, Chuck keeps rolling.
Auburn and Bruce Pearl are fighting for Charles Barkley
Before Auburn squared off against Michigan State in the Elite Eight, head coach Bruce Pearl had more than just a Final Four spot on his mind. He wanted to bring home something special for Charles Barkley.
“Somehow, I’ve got to find a way to win so that Charles Barkley can give Magic Johnson some crap and represent,” Pearl said. “Magic’s always floating those rings at Charles, right? He’s always floating those rings, and Charles ain’t got any rings. I’ve got to try to get some rings for Charles, so he can float them back at Magic.”
The Hall of Famer has long been haunted by his lack of championship hardware, especially with Magic flashing his five NBA titles.
Meanwhile, Pearl made it clear—Auburn wasn’t walking in as the favorite. “This is the third time in our history we’ve gone to the Elite Eight. This is uncharted water for us. We’re talking about Michigan State. We’re talking about Tom Izzo.” Auburn might have been the No. 1 seed, but Pearl knew their opponent came with a legacy.
“We know our place,” he admitted. “We know what we’re trying to go up against, and we know the uphill battle that it is when you play against a hall of fame coach, and obviously, a legendary program.”
But Auburn answered the challenge, taking down Michigan State 78-65 to book their spot in the Final Four. Now, the question remains—can they finally get Barkley the ring he’s been missing his entire career? What do you think?
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