Charles Barkley is never shy to speak his mind, so when it comes to the hottest topic concerning the NCAA Tournament and Selection Sunday this year – if Miami, Ohio, deserves to be in if the RedHawks after falling short in the MAC Tournament –, you know the Hall of Famer and longtime commentator has his opinion.
The Round Mound of Rebound’s view on the topic goes against that of another Auburn legend: Bruce Pearl.
“I disagree with Bruce Pearl,” Barkley said. “Bruce said if they don’t win the tournament, they shouldn’t get in.”
Charles Barkley believes Miami, Ohio deserves NCAA Tournament bid
The former Auburn coach has caught plenty of flak for his comments concerning Travis Steele’s team’s place in the NCAA Tournament after they finished the regular season undefeated. Pearl has caught some strays from Miami athletic director David Sayler, who called him out for the “homerism” he showed toward Auburn, which is coached by Bruce’s son, Steven, and for dissing what the RedHawks have accomplished.
“@coachbrucepearl u are flat out wrong about @MiamiOH_BBall when u say we would finish last in the Big East. The disrespect is awful and u should not be near a TV studio covering this sport when u show your true colors!” . “Even slipped in a ‘we’ when talking about Auburn, nice work!”
In the famous words of Barkley, Pearl’s view is turr-i-ble.
“Why is it their fault the other teams suck in their conference?” Barkley said. “I tell people that all the time. They’re like, ‘Well, they didn’t play anybody.’ They played their schedule. The schedule’s made years in advance. And Duke won’t come to Miami. Arizona won’t go to Miami, Ohio.”
It will be a major controversy on Sunday if the RedHawks do not get a spot in the tournament, with the bid going to a Power 4 school (ahem, Auburn) that didn’t exactly have the same kind of year that Steele’s squad did.
Have fun, committee. This isn’t going to be fun.