WATCH: Charles Barkley makes ridiculous promise if Auburn advances to Sweet 16
During the CBS Sports coverage of Sunday’s Second Round action in the NCAA Tournament, former Auburn star Charles Barkley made a big promise if his team can knock off Miami. The basketball player turned television personality now has a lot on the line.
During a segment which compared the physical stature and habits of Charles Barkley and former Miami football player Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – which showed some shocking similarities – he put his pride on the line with a promise if Auburn wins.
“If we win tonight, I might take my shirt off,” said Barkley.
While he did include the word “might” in his statement, giving him an easy out, his track record makes it easy to believe he would follow through. Adding to his motivation to follow through, regular co-hosts Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson are at the table beside him to help provide some peer pressure.
Bruce Pearl on Miami defense
After Auburn took care of business against 15-seed Jacksonville State in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, Bruce Pearl and his staff made a quick pivot to Miami. The veteran head coach took time to break down how he believes the Hurricanes can cause problems in the Second Round.
During a press conference, Bruce Pearl shared what he saw from the Miami defense on tape, and how he believes the Hurricanes will look to slow down the Auburn offense on Sunday.
“They switch like crazy,” said Pearl. “They double the post, they turn you over before you get a shot. Again, they just make plays. They’re sunk into the paint, and they’re going to have it all packed in. If you go in there and try to get in the lane, they’re stripping and ripping. If you go in there and spin back the other way, they’re coming off.
“So obviously, they’re going to look at our shooting percentages in half-court, and they’re like, man. Every time Walker rolls to the rim, there’s going to be three guys in there tagging him. We’re going to have to — again, they’re going to force us to make some shots from the perimeter, and we’ll have to make those to win.”
Bruce Pearl also acknowledged the key role each of his assistant coaches, and Auburn’s support staff, play in preparation during the NCAA Tournament with one known opponent and two potential opponents just two days later each weekend.
“Those two-thirds of my staff was not at all worried about our opening opponent,” said Pearl. “So we were working really, really hard for Miami as a staff. I wasn’t, right? I took a peek at both teams early in the week just to look at them, just to see them.”