LEXINGTON, Ky. — Ahead of Auburn basketball’s round of 64 matchup with Alabama State on Thursday in the NCAA Tournament, Auburn basketball legend Charles Barkley had a lot to say about the Tigers and Johni Broome should they live up to the potential of their March Madness hopes.

“If he can finish the journey, I would say he’s (Broome) the greatest player in Auburn basketball history,” Barkley said Thursday on CBS’ in-studio NCAA Tournament show. “I truly mean that. What he’s done for the program, him and Coach (Bruce) Pearl and those guys, has been incredible. But if they could win a national championship, listen man, it’d be great.

“And I would say this, I said when they made it to the Final Four a few years ago, that’s the greatest season in Auburn basketball history. If he’s able to win a championship, I’d say he’s the greatest player in Auburn basketball history. … He’s better than me in college.”

Ready to win March Madness? Join USA TODAY’s Survivor Pool today

Barkley also stressed his lack of concern about the Tigers’ recent struggles, losing three of their last four, albeit to 4-seed Texas A&M, 2-seed Alabama and 2-seed Tennessee.

“They didn’t lose to Providence,” Barkley said. “They lost to three schools that were ranked in the top 10-to-15. And listen, no disrespect to Providence. Don’t be blowing up. … They lost to Alabama at the buzzer, and they’re a No. 2 or 3 seed. That’s why I’m not concerned. They lost to three teams that’s in the top 15 of the country.”

Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at [email protected] or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Charles Barkley with high praise for Johni Broome, Auburn basketball ahead of NCAAT