Bruce, Barkley & Basketball: 'We're part of a special family'

At their annual golf tournament, raising money to support basketball on the Plains, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl called hall of famer Charles Barkley 'a great American story'

by Jeff Shearer
Bruce, Barkley & Basketball: 'We're part of a special family'Bruce, Barkley & Basketball: 'We're part of a special family'
Steven Leonard / Auburn Athletics

Charles Barkley and Bruce Pearl

OPELIKA, Ala. – Forty years after leading Auburn to its first NCAA Tournament appearance, Charles Barkley applauds Bruce Pearl for elevating the Tigers’ program to the level where bids to the Big Dance are an annual occurrence.

“One of my greatest accomplishments, we made it to March Madness my last year,” said Barkley, the 1984 SEC Player of the Year. “I’m proud of that accomplishment. Bruce has raised the expectations, and I’m happy for that. You have to give Bruce and his staff a lot of credit.”

The basketball hall of famer joined Pearl Monday at Grand National for their ninth annual Bruce, Barkley & Basketball Golf Classic Presented by YellaWood.

“There’s not a more influential person in the world of basketball than Charles Barkley,” Pearl said. “What he’s accomplished as a player, as a person, professionally and philanthropically, the kind of role model he is.

“When we are selling the dream about playing at Auburn, we’re selling, ‘You get a chance to play where Charles Barkley got started and gives a great deal of credit to for helping him overcome the challenges of a young man from a small town.’ He’s a great American story.”

Under Pearl, Auburn has appeared in five NCAA Tournaments in the past six postseasons while winning four SEC championships – two regular season titles and two tournament crowns – in the past seven years.

“With Bruce, you’re going to be well coached and he’s going to coach you hard,” Barkley said. “If you do not want to be coached hard, you should not come to Auburn. He’s going to make you a better player.”

A member of the Tigers Unlimited Foundation’s Pat Dye Society, Barkley shared Saturday on the Tiger Tailgate Show on the Auburn Sports Network that he’s recently committed $2 million to support women’s athletics at Auburn, including $1 million to women’s basketball.

“I love (Auburn women’s basketball head coach) Johnnie (Harris) so much,” Barkley said. “I said, I should give another million specifically to women’s basketball. It’s a great time to be in women’s sports. What Caitlin (Clark) has done for the visibility of women’s basketball for the last three years is incredible. I want to make sure Auburn does not get left behind, period.”

Before the golfers teed off, the hosts took turns thanking the participants, including program legends John Mengelt and Chris Morris, for making the event – and the program it supports – successful.

“I am grateful, and I want to thank you for going on the road,” said Pearl, noting that Auburn fans’ willingness to travel makes neutral sites like Atlanta and the conference tournament in Nashville feel more like home games, and SEC away games look and sound more like neutral sites.

“We’re part of a great family,” Barkley said. “We have to stick together as a family. This is the family we have chosen. We’re part of a special family. War Eagle!”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer