As the SEC continues to dominate AP’s Top-25 rankings, the spotlight shines on the conference and its elite programs. With the frenzy for the ever-insane March Madness growing, NBA Hall of Famer and Auburn Tigers legend Charles Barkley dropped a bold statement about Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats.
The deep-rooted rivalry between the two schools in the state of Alabama dates back long before Barkley’s days in The Plains. The Tigers and Crimson Tide can’t stand each other, and that animosity isn’t fading anytime soon.
Alabama has experienced great success in March Madness since Nate Oats arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2019. Last season, the Crimson Tide reached the Final Four but fell to the UConn Huskies in the NCAA National Semifinal. In the previous three years, Bama made it to the Sweet Sixteen, although they advanced past the Regional Semifinal only once.
However, Barkley—whose ties to Auburn make him disdain anything good that happens in Tuscaloosa—has never been a fan of Oats’ hiring at Alabama. Recently, the NBA legend made a big admission about Oats and the Tide.
“I hated [Oats] when he came to the SEC,” Barkley said, via On3. “I was watching those Buffalo teams play, and I was like, ‘Man, that guy can really coach.’ And then, when the Alabama job opened up, I was like, ‘Man, I sure hope Coach Oats don’t get that job.’ And he got the job, and the rest is history.”
Iron Bowl on the court
Alabama and Auburn have seen each others faces once already in the NCAA season. The Tigers walked into Coleman Coliseum and took the wind out of the Crimson Tide’s sails, handing their enemies a 94-85 defeat.
However, the two eternal rivals have another marquee matchup on the horizon, circled in red on the calendar. The Top-10 programs will square off in their regular-season finale, a college basketball Rivalry Week showdown on March 8. This time, No. 1 Auburn will host No. 6 Alabama at Neville Arena.