A Message That Stood the Test of Time! Imagine getting a voicemail from an NBA legend—a Hall of Famer, someone whose voice you instantly recognize. Now imagine holding onto that voicemail for seven years because it meant that much to you. That’s exactly what Bruce Pearl did. Before he became the head coach at Auburn, Pearl received an unexpected message from none other than Charles Barkley—one that he saved for years. Fast forward to today, and that message is being revisited. But this time, it’s not Pearl bringing it up—it’s Chuck himself.
During a recent interview with the Field of 68 team, Barkley sat down to discuss this season’s March Madness run. Somewhere in the conversation, one of the hosts asked him about his first memory of Bruce Pearl. That one question sent Chuck straight into nostalgia mode.
“I’m sitting there watching tape,” Barkley recalled, thinking back to his 2007 March Madness coverage for CBS and Turner. He had spent months studying college basketball, breaking down plays, analyzing teams—but one thing stood out.
“I see a team run the same play five times in a row and get a good opportunity every time,” Barkley explained. “In the NBA, especially in a seven-game series, you have multiple defensive schemes. If one’s not working, you switch it up. But in college? Some of these coaches don’t make those adjustments.” But there was one coach who did.
EXCLUSIVE: Charles Barkley talks Auburn’s historic season and MUCH more with @vincewolfram15 and @CavanaghJojo! https://t.co/MeFcg0oNAR
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 11, 2025
It was Bruce Pearl, then leading Tennessee, who caught Barkley’s attention. His team played with energy, made in-game adjustments like an NBA squad, and never stuck to the same failing game plan. Barkley was so impressed that he left Pearl a voicemail out of the blue: “I love the way you coach.”
For Pearl, it wasn’t just a compliment—it was validation. At the time, he was a rising name in college basketball, but after facing NCAA violations and being dismissed from Tennessee in 2011, his future seemed uncertain. Yet, through it all, he held onto that message.
Seven years later, when Auburn hired him, he played that voicemail for his new team. He wanted them to understand what it meant to be recognized by someone as respected as Barkley. “You don’t forget stuff like that,” Pearl admitted. And that was right from where preparation for the best gift for Chuck started!
Auburn’s rise under Bruce Pearl is aimed at finishing off what Charles Barkley started.
Fast forward to 2022. March Madness was in full swing, and Barkley, part of CBS and Turner’s coverage team, was asked to pick his national champion. Since he’s Auburn’s most famous alum, the choice should have been easy, right? But it wasn’t. “I’m picking, and this is painful for me to say, Roll Tide, National Champions,” Barkley admitted on The Next Round.
Yes, Auburn’s biggest icon picked Alabama. That never would have happened if Auburn had been strong enough to compete for the title. And Bruce Pearl knew it. So, he got to work. Tigers had spent years as a middle-of-the-pack program, but things have now changed.
Pearl built them into a powerhouse, guiding them to a 27-4 record, No. 1 ranking, and first place in the SEC. Barkley, watching it all unfold, couldn’t believe the transformation. “You cannot compare this environment to when I played here,” he said. “Bruce Pearl does an amazing job, and these fans are terrific.” And honestly? He’s not wrong.
Back in 1984, Charles Barkley led Auburn to its first NCAA Tournament appearance. Now, 41 years later, it looks like could be the moment the Tigers bring home their first-ever national championship. With March Madness in full swing, all eyes are on Auburn. According to Sporting News’ Bill Bender, they’re still projected as a top seed, but the road ahead won’t be easy. They’ll have to battle through a loaded SEC and powerhouse programs like Duke, Houston, and Florida.
But one thing is for sure—Bruce Pearl’s Auburn Tigers are no longer just a feel-good story. They’re a serious contender. And this time, if Auburn makes it to the top, you can bet Charles Barkley won’t be picking against them.
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