Alabama's Nate Oats: Of course Charles Barkley's bracket is busted, 'he's from Auburn'

SPOKANE, Wash. — The rivalry never sleeps between Alabama basketball and Auburn.

Tigers legend and NBA hall of famer Charles Barkley's NCAA Tournament bracket is busted, and Alabama coach Nate Oats wasn't going to let that opportunity pass him by without trolling his in-state neighbors.

"It's March Madness, of course Barkley's bracket is busted," Oats said on the March Madness pregame show Saturday morning. "He's from Auburn."

The playful jab comes after No. 4 Auburn was upset by No. 13 Yale in the Round of 64 on Friday. No. 4 Alabama played on the same court in Spokane Arena later that day, dropping 109 points on No. 13 Charleston in a victory to advance to the second round. The Crimson Tide will play No. 12 Grand Canyon on Sunday (5:10 p.m. CT, TBS) for a spot in the Sweet 16.

"Coach Oats, he does a great job," Barkley said. "I’m going to be rooting for them to lose, I’m not gonna lie.”

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Richard Silva is a sports reporter for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama's Nate Oats trolls Charles Barkley during March Madness