Auburn fans, brace yourselves—because Charles Barkley isn’t holding back. The Tigers’ most famous alum has always been loud and proud about, and this season is no exception. “They (Auburn) take the personality of the coach. Bruce is amazing. They have taken his personality. Oh, they’re crazy. They’re terrific defensively,” Barkley praised, highlighting the team’s fiery energy and defensive dominance.

And honestly? He’s not wrong. Auburn has been nearly unstoppable this season, boasting a stellar 27-3 record and sitting atop the SEC with a legitimate shot at the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. On paper, they look like the team to beat. But as much as Barkley loves his Tigers, even he couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room.

Well, it’s the Florida Gators. Barkley himself admitted it: “I’ll tell you the team that scares me the most, that damn Florida team. They scare the hell out of me.” And if you’ve been paying attention, you’d understand why. Florida hasn’t just been winning games—they’ve been dismantling elite competition, proving they belong in the championship conversation.

The Gators have already taken down Tennessee, Alabama, and—most importantly—Auburn. And they didn’t just scrape by; they outplayed the Tigers in every aspect, handing them one of their rare losses this season with a scorching 39.8% shooting performance from beyond the arc.

Auburn fought hard, but Florida had too many answers. The Gators drained 13-of-33 (39.4%) from deep, stretching Auburn’s defense to its limit. Meanwhile, the Tigers struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 7-of-22 (31.8%). The result? An 81-90 statement win for Florida. Suddenly, Barkley’s fear didn’t seem so irrational after all.

And the bad news for Auburn? Florida is still climbing. The Gators have cracked the top four in the rankings, surpassing Alabama and closing in on the Tigers. While their one remaining regular-season game won’t boost them any higher, they still have a chance to crush Auburn’s national championship dreams when it matters most.

Auburn’s Achilles’ Heel – Can They Fix It in Time?

Let’s be clear: Auburn is still a juggernaut. With five double-digit scorers and an offense that rarely turns the ball over, they have all the tools to make a deep tournament run. But if March Madness has taught us anything, it’s that one weakness can be the difference between a championship and an early exit.

For Auburn, that weakness is their perimeter defense. Florida and Duke exposed it, both shooting over 39% from three-point range in their wins over the Tigers. If Auburn can’t tighten up, they’re vulnerable—especially against teams that can light it up from deep.

Their upcoming SEC showdown against Alabama will be a major test. If the Tigers can lock in defensively and secure a statement win, they’ll enter the tournament with serious momentum. But if Alabama finds the same cracks in their defense that Florida did, Auburn’s path to a title could get a whole lot rockier.

However, Florida and Auburn aren’t the only contenders dominating the SEC. Duke is still looming as one of the safest bets to win it all. Riding 27-3 and a top-five ranking in both offense and defense, the Blue Devils are built for a championship run. If Jon Scheyer can overcome his past March struggles, Duke could be cutting down the nets when it’s all said and done. Meanwhile, Alabama and Tennessee are still in the mix, though both have been inconsistent. If Alabama can shake off its recent slump and get hot from three, they could be a major wildcard in the tournament.

But at the end of the day, Auburn controls its own destiny. They’ve been dominant all season, and they have the talent to go all the way. But in a chaotic SEC and an unpredictable NCAA Tournament, no one is safe.