Bruce Pearl confident Auburn fans will have strong showing in NCAA Tournament
Even though NCAA Tournament games are played at a neutral site, Bruce Pearl still expects that Auburn fans will have a strong showing at the Tigers’ games.
Pearl explained why he thinks this ahead of Auburn’s first game.
“I would imagine they are going to find a way to get tickets,” Bruce Pearl said. “I know it’s been really difficult. My phone has rung off the hook.”
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“And I have had to say no to a lot of friends and a lot of people who wanted to get tickets because they are just hard to come by. Our fans have traveled. You know, for the last several years — it’s not been like Kentucky Blue but it’s been pretty close,” Pearl said.
Under Bruce Pearl, Auburn has had tons of success in front of its fans. At one point, the Tigers had won 28 games in a row at home.
“Neville Arena has been sold out for the last five or six years. Hard sellout. You cannot buy a ticket to a game at Neville Arena, period. Unless you have a season ticket and — so our fans have then begun to buy tickets all around the SEC. So our fans have traveled. And I’m sure they will travel here to Birmingham.”
Auburn’s first round game is going to be played against Iowa. Luckily, for Auburn, the team is playing in Birmingham. This will make it easier for fans to fill the arena, as Bruce Pearl wants.
Bruce Pearl responded to Charles Barkley picking Alabama
Charles Barkley is proud to have gone to Auburn. That didn’t stop him from picking Alabama to win the national championship this year, though.
This prompted Bruce Pearl to reply to the legendary Tiger.
“Let me tell you something, Charles Barkley loves the State of Alabama. He loves Auburn first, no question about that,” said Pearl.
“He has been pretty loyal to our state. All I have to say about Charles Barkley is he’s going to tell you what he thinks, whether you like it or not. If he said he thinks Alabama is going to win the tournament, he’s not doing it for any other reason than Charles thinks they’re going to win it. I Played played against them a couple times, and they are good enough to win it. Nate Oats is one of the best coaches in the country. Done an amazing job with this team. They are talented, they are deep, and they play the right way.”