Charles Barkley: Auburn 'did not play well' in NCAA Tournament upset loss to Yale
Auburn fans watched their team go from double-digit favorites to blowing a 10-point lead during Friday’s NCAA Tournament opener against Yale. The Tigers had a 68-58 lead at one point in the second half, but it quickly evaporated as the Bulldogs pulled off the stunner with a 78-76 upset victory.
Down the stretch, Auburn struggled to make free throws and get the clutch bucket it so desperately needed. Tigers legend Charles Barkley noted that on the postgame show while also acknowledging his alma mater, quite simply, didn’t play as well as it needed to play.
“They had plenty of chances,” Barkley said. “They did not play well. But Yale played better. They deserved to win the game. My Tigers, man, this kind of ruins a really good season, winning the SEC Tournament. To lose in the first round, very disappointed and frustrating.
“But listen, shoutout to Yale. The Bulldogs – I never thought a Bulldog would beat a Tiger, but they did. Congratulations to Yale. Man, it’s gonna be a long trip from Spokane, Washington, back to The Plains.”
Auburn is far from the first high seed to fall during the first two days of the tournament. No. 3 seed Kentucky fell to Oakland on Thursday, and No. 7 seed Florida lost in the final seconds against No. 10 Colorado – fresh out of the First Four.
Upsets come with the territory of March Madness, Charles Barkley said. Even though Auburn won the SEC tournament and had a strong finish to the regular season, he said it all goes away once the calendar flips to March and the bracket becomes official.
“When you’re a high seed and you’re expected [to win], you don’t play well,” Barkley said. “That’s the thing about this tournament that never disappoints. Same thing with Florida, with Colorado winning. Man, nothing matters when this tournament starts. Let’s think about this. Less than four or five days ago, we’re holding the SEC championship, on top of the work. And all that hard work is over. That’s the painful thing about sports and the great thing about sports.
“You do all that running during the summer, you’re lifting all those weights, and it’s a long season. And then, it all comes down to March Madness. You get a great seed, and it’s over that quickly. But I’m gonna give Yale credit.”