Charles Barkley delivered a layered challenge to the High Point Panthers, the winners of a shocking 83-82 Round of 64 upset over the No. 5-seeded Wisconsin Badgers, on CBS airwaves during halftime of the Alabama Crimson Tide's matchup with the Hofstra Pride.
Barkley declared on Friday afternoon that "We’re playing High Point next year. I’m speaking for Auburn." Sir Charles spoke highly of mid-majors like High Point that don't get the time of day on Power Conference programs' schedules. The Appalachian State Mountaineers and UAB Blazers were the highest-profile non-conference opponents this past season.
“I’m telling you all right now, Auburn gonna play High Point next year,” Barkley said. “I’m telling you I’m gonna call (Auburn) coach Steve Pearl and AD (John) Cohen. We’re playing High Point next year.
“That was so exciting yesterday. It’s such an honor and a privilege to get this tournament every year. Watching High Point play, No. 1, the coach (Flynn Clayman) and his enthusiasm. The stuff he talked about after the game was really poignant and important. Some of the big schools have got to start playing some of these mid-majors. They have to schedule them. The big schools don’t get their schedules held against them."
Auburn scheduling High Point next season would be genius
Barkley's got his mind on the prize. We know the Panthers will be ravaged by the transfer portal this offseason, as any aspiring mid-major program that shows out in March does. That's why scheduling them would be perfect for the Auburn Tigers.
Steven Pearl played enough of the top-seeded March Madness schools from the current field in 2025-26. It got him an NIT trip in his debut season. He should go into next season saying his team is still playing conference champions and tournament teams coming off a deep run, but without actually playing the very best teams in the sport.
Better yet, make this an away game. High Point has a legendary campus and is situated in one of the nicest regions of North Carolina. Maybe Chuck just wants to personally commentate during that one. You can't blame him if that's the case.
Either way, Barkley was smart to lay the gauntlet down now with the Panthers at their, ahem, highest point. HPU won't be the same next season, and AU will hopefully be more cohesive, if nothing else.