The Auburn Tigers got served their first loss of the season. That too to a rival that they beat in their last matchup 43 years ago. But they’re still winning big in Charles Barkley’s viewpoint. Sir Charles was the one who turned the Tigers into a top-seeded team in the ’80s. The tradition is continuing under Bruce Pearl. The head coach gives Chuck the confidence that his Tigers will overcome this single loss. When he stopped by The Next Round, he hyped the Tigers with his positive outlook on the defeat.

“I watched the entire game,” Barkley said on The Next Round. The last time Auburn and Duke’s men’s basketball teams played against each other was in 1981 at Cameron Stadium. Under the young Barkley, a new and improved Tigers squad lost to Duke by only one point, 72-71. Chuck said on The Steam Room he was excited for this match. As much as he wanted redemption, Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils beat the No.2 school.

Despite the loss, Chuck said, “Auburn’s got a better team than Duke.” This is after Duke held on to its lead with about three minutes left to the game and some clear mistakes on Auburn’s part. Duke even had a double-digit lead after halftime, not looking like the close game it was in 1981.

He further told the hosts,  “They didn’t play great last night, in my opinion. They had too many turnovers, they didn’t play with a lot of discipline. I think Bruce [Pearl] will clean that up.” Because of the head coach, Chuck has the distinct feeling when watching the game that “Man, Auburn’s really good.”

Barkley and Bruce Pearl go way back. Chuck’s always hyped him and the Tigers for bringing up Auburn basketball. Among the many ways Chuckster helps his alma mater is also hosting a golf fundraiser with Pearl. He’s hinging Auburn’s future success on his favorite coach. Meanwhile, the coach is hyping the opponents.

Charles Barkley is a changed man

There’s being positive and there’s being Charles Barkley. In 1981, he wanted to beat up his teammates for celebrating a loss. Before Chuck arrived in Auburn, it was a terrible team. He led them to the NCAA Tournament, and got them more wins than they ever did in program history. His team celebrated their close losses but Chuck hated it.

The tables have turned now. Chuck’s always going on about how he doesn’t like the pressure to win on today’s college athletes. He credits Bruce Pearl for making a healthy environment for the Tigers’ squad amid all the pressure.

On December 4, the Tigers had more rebounds and assists than the Blue Devils. But they had eight turnovers as opposed to Duke’s four and 20 fouls. So Chuck is right that they lacked discipline. But Coach Pearl admitted that they were just against a stronger team. He told the media after the game, “I think this team is going to dominate the ACC,” about the Duke Blue Devils. Considering Chuck hangs on to every one of Pearl’s words, he’d probably agree.