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Charles Barkley Sends Stern Message to Draymond Green After Auburn's Win Over Michigan

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Mar 29, 2025 10:11 AM ET

The NCAA Tournament's number one overall seed, the Auburn Tigers, used a big second half on Friday night to defeat the Michigan Wolverines in front of a raucous pro-Auburn crowd in SEC country, sending coach Bruce Pearl's team to the Elite 8.

The Tigers' 78-65 victory means they will play coach Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans next, giving the SEC regular season champions a chance to shine with a trip to the Final Four hanging in the balance.

Following the game, former Auburn player Charles Barkley shared his thoughts on his alma mater's next challenge, offering a stern set of words for Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors, himself a Michigan State alumnus.

"I'm proud of those kids," Barkley said on the CBS postgame show.

"Denver Jones...(Tahaad) Pettiford in the second half.

"I'm proud of our guys but we can't celebrate. We're the number one overall seed. We didn't come here to get to the Elite 8."

Barkley predicted a Tigers win prior to the game along with his longtime co-host Kenny Smith. Clark Kellogg predicted a Wolverines win, but the Tigers' swarming second half defense and timely three-pointers by Jones and Pettiford proved too much for Michigan.

"I can't wait until Sunday against one of the greatest coaches ever in Coach Izzo, so get ready Draymond Green and Steve Smith, and quit texting me," Barkley said in his message to Green, who played for Izzo in East Lansing during his college basketball career.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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