'A great run': Charles Barkley relives Final Four experience

'A great run': Charles Barkley relives Final Four experience'A great run': Charles Barkley relives Final Four experience
Wade Rackley/Auburn Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – Charles Barkley spoke last year at the Bruce, Barkley and Basketball Golf Classic and talked about the Auburn basketball program raising expectations and learning to play with a target on its back after the Tigers won the SEC championship and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003. 

"Staying on top is the hard part," he said. 

Little did Barkley know at the time that Auburn would follow that 2017-18 season with arguably the greatest season in program history and a postseason run this past spring that culminated with a trip to the Final Four. 

So at this year's Bruce, Barkley and Basketball event on Monday, it was all about that run. 

"It was one of the coolest things that I've ever experienced," Barkley said. "Because listen, let's be realistic. I didn't think Auburn would ever go to the Final Four. As much as I love my team, I said, 'Wow. Auburn is at the Final Four.' 

"I really want to thank the people of Auburn because I was nervous that they weren't going to show up at the Final Four. Minnesota is not easy to get to. But I want to give a shout out to the Auburn nation. They were fantastic. Other than the Olympics, that Saturday at the Final Four is probably the coolest thing I've ever done. I was really so proud – No. 1 of our team, but also our fans for coming all the way to Minnesota.

"Of all the losses and success I've had in my life, that's probably the worst I've ever felt after a game. I felt so bad for those kids. But man, they had the greatest season in Auburn basketball history. It was just a great run."

Though the season ended a game earlier than it should have, it doesn't take away from what Auburn accomplished. The players from that Final Four team? They will always be beloved by the fan base and forever remembered for making history. 

Take Saturday's football game for example. One of the loudest cheers of the game came when they recognized the 2018-19 basketball team on the field at the end of the first quarter. 

"It means so much to me," former Auburn guard Bryce Brown said. "I'm just glad I can celebrate it with the people that supported me my four years here at Auburn. It's a great experience, a great feeling just to know that I have a crowd like this, a fan base like this and a family like this."

"It's a lot of fun being back on the Plains," added former big man and first-round pick Chuma Okeke. "All the support that we got throughout the season, I'm still seeing that support even after the season."

The players also received their Final Four rings over the weekend, and before Saturday's game, head coach Bruce Pearl presented Barkley with his own ring. 

"It was really cool," Barkley said. "It's a really beautiful ring, too. A nice gesture." 

For Barkley, the weekend wrapped up on the golf course Monday with Bruce, Barkley and Basketball. The event, now in its fourth year, raises money for the Auburn men's basketball program through Tigers Unlimited.

In just 36 days, a new season will begin with a brand new Auburn team taking the court.  

"This is going to be an interesting year," Barkley said. "When I talked to the players the other day, they understand it's going to be a little bit different when you're being the hunted, not the hunter. But it's a fun situation to be in because now you get to prove everybody wrong. Bruce and the coaching staff want to prove that we weren't a one-hit wonder. I'm really looking forward to it."