Auburn trolled by SEC rivals and Charles Barkley after March Madness loss
- Yale pulled off another upset in the NCAA tournament this year, defeating Aubirn 78-76
- Kiffin almost left Ole Miss for Auburn last year, but preferred to stay put
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The Auburn men’s basketball team has been mercilessly targeted by its SEC rivals following its shocking March Madness loss to Yale, as Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin mocked the Tigers online, while Alabama’s Nate Oats visited the Bulldogs’ locker room after the game, with Charles Barkley’ disappointed and frustrated by his college team’s exit in the first round.
Following the latest upset at this year’s NCAA Tournament in Washington State, Oats, the Crimson Tide men’s basketball head coach (since 2019), made a quick stop in the hallway to congratulate his Yale counterpart, James Jones before Alabama faced Charleston in the same stadium. for the Bulldogs to beat the Tigers at Spokane Arena.
The pair also apparently hugged outside the Yale locker room before Jones attended his post-game media duties, according to Tuscaloosa News’ Nick Kelly.
Kiffin, the head coach of Ole Miss football, rubbed more salt in the wounds of Auburn fans when he shared a sarcastic tweet after the Tigers bowed out.
“Good luck guys,” he wrote as part of a quote tweet after Auburn’s 78-76 loss.
Auburn bench players react to a first-round loss to Yale near the end of the second half
Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin couldn’t resist making a sarcastic comment about his team’s rivals
Alabama head coach Nate Oats went to the Yale locker room after the Bulldogs defeated the Tigers
Kiffin was offered the opportunity to leave Ole Miss for Auburn a year ago, but preferred to stay in Oxford, signing a six-year contract extension.
He also served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2014 to 2016, and his teams swept Auburn in each of his three years in Tuscaloosa.
Barkley, on the other hand, couldn’t hide his dismay at seeing his beloved college team crash out so early in this year’s NCAA Tournament, especially considering the Tigers had won this year’s SEC Tournament just a few weeks ago.
Former NBA player Charles Barkley congratulated Yale on Friday for beating his college team
“Yale played better, they deserve to win the game,” Chuck acknowledged on TNT. “My Tigers guy… we’ve had games like this, really… it’s been a really good season to win the SEC tournament.
“To lose in the first round… very disappointed and frustrating… but listen, shoutout to Yale. The Bulldogs…never thought a Bulldog would beat a Tiger, but they did.
“Congratulations to Yale, and man… it’s going to be a long time coming from Spokane Washington basketball back to the Plains,” Barkley added.
Yale will play NCAA Tournament runner-up San Diego State in the second round on Sunday. The location of the game has yet to be determined.